Joan Peterson and London's Witch Hunt

The story

Joan Peterson, branded the “Witch of Wapping,” earned money as a healer and fortune-teller before becoming the centre of a sensational 1652 case. She was accused of using magic to cause the death of the wealthy Lady Powell, while politicised pamphlets transformed an inheritance dispute into a story of familiars and the devil. Peterson refused to validate the prosecution's preferred version and was executed at Tyburn. The case exposes a market for healing and divination, the vulnerability of female practitioners and print culture's power to manufacture a persuasive monster from a complex property conflict.

Historical context

Magic, religion, medicine and observation of nature overlapped far more closely than modern school categories suggest. This matters because a modern audience knows the ending and assumes that it was inevitable. The people involved did not. They acted inside rules, rumours and limitations that now have to be reconstructed in pieces.

Where to find it

Wapping execution area, E1W.

The address identifies a site associated with the story. The surviving structure may differ from the original building. Use the map and check access with the venue before visiting.

Evidence and folklore

The source uses the evidence profile F/D. F means a documented historical core, D a disputed interpretation, and L legend or folklore. A supernatural account is presented as a story, not as an established event.

Planning a visit

Combine this stop with one or two nearby places rather than trying to cover the entire library in a day. Check opening arrangements, ticket requirements and step-free access with each venue. Some places are former sites or working buildings, so a view from the public street may be the appropriate visit. The original author text was prepared in August 2026.