Marie Esnouf’s story is a fascinating yet chilling chapter in the history of Jersey.
In this dramatic reimagining, you encounter her in 1648 while she was imprisoned at Mont Orgueil Castle, accused of witchcraft and awaiting trial.
As a rector’s granddaughter, one might expect Marie to be above suspicion. However, during the tumultuous period of the 17th century, when fear and superstition ran high, her fate was sealed when parishioners accused her of practicing witchcraft.
In a time when unexplained events or illness could be blamed on witchcraft, even someone with family connections like Marie wasn’t immune. While many of the trials mention criminal behaviour, we now think that people could have been accused of witchcraft for other reasons: for being different, for knowledge of herbs, or for simply not conforming to societal expectations.
Hear Marie’s tale, similar to that of many other accused women and men. The shadows of the Castle’s walls serve as the perfect backdrop for this story in which the scales of justice are not necessarily balanced.
Hear the story every Monday from 11am to 3pm
If meeting Marie Esnouf is going to be the highlight of your trip to Mont Orgueil Castle, please call +44 (0)1534 853 292 before you visit to check that performances are confirmed for that date.
