WITCHCRAFT IN DORSET. 45 



evil designs in common e.g., somewhat after the manner related of 

 their fellow-witches in Scotland (Conf: Shakespeare's Macbeth and 

 Burns' Tarn o' Shanter). The only reference of the kind relating 

 to Dorset that I can find is a statement made by our Burns in 

 vol. iv. of our Field Club Proceedings, where at p. 156 the late Mr. 

 Barnes says that many years ago he was told by a man of the 

 neighbourhood of Leigh Common that a corner of the common was 

 called " Witches' Corner," and that, long again after that, a friend 

 gave him some old depositions on witchcraft taken before Somerset 

 magistrates from about the year 1650 to 1664. The cases were of 

 Somerset, and touched in some points Dorsetshire, and one of the 

 witches' sisterhood said that they sometimes met on Leigh Common. 

 This proof of the meeting of witches on Leigh Common as the 

 ground of the traditional name of Witches' Corner is interesting, 

 Mr. Barnes remarks, as a token of truth in tradition. Koberts, in 

 his History of Lyme Regis (p. 261), writing upwards of a half-a- 

 century ago, says that " of superstitious belief in witches and evil 

 " spirits there 'still appear some traces. Our vessels and many 

 " houses have an old horse-shoe nailed up. No one now likes to 

 " own a belief in evil spirits or witches, but considers it would be 

 " a pity to receive harm from neglecting so easy a precaution. In 

 " some chimneys a piece of bacon, stuck with pins, used to be 

 " suspended to interrupt witches in their descent, and so prevent 

 " their visit. Toads that gained access to a cellar or house were 

 " ejected with the greatest care, and no injury was offered, because 

 " these were regarded, as being used as familiars by witches, with 

 " veneration or awe." 



An interesting illustration of that to which Mr. Roberts alludes 

 occurred some five or six years ago in the parish of Hawkchureh, in 

 West Dorset (an account of which appeared in the Bridport Neivs 

 in March, 1884). A new tenant had recently entered into possession 

 of a house in the village which had just been vacated, when it was 

 necessary to displace what was thought to be a lodgment in one of 

 the chimneys. The obstruction was got out, and was found to 

 be neither brick nor stone, but a bullock's heart, into which was 



