Scotland’s Last Witch Hunt: Why Paisley’s Place in History Still Matters
- Gavin Divers
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
When people think of witch trials, they often picture Salem or medieval Europe — but one of the most tragic and significant chapters happened right here in Scotland. In fact, Paisley was the site of the last mass witch hunt in Europe. While other countries were leaving witch trials behind, seven people were condemned and executed in a single event in 1697 — right in the heart of Paisley.
Today, this chilling episode is brought to life through the Paisley Witches Walking Tour — a two-hour guided experience that invites visitors to walk the very streets where fear, faith, and injustice collided.
The Last Mass Witch Hunt in Europe
In 1697, seven people — four women and three men — were accused of witchcraft in Paisley, Renfrewshire. Their names were:
Margaret Lang
Margaret Fulton
Agnes Naismith
Katherine Campbell
John Lindsay
James Lindsay
Thomas Lindsay
The accusations stemmed from a young girl, Christian Shaw, who claimed she was being tormented by witches. What began as a local disturbance spiralled into a full-blown panic. Despite a complete lack of real evidence, all seven were found guilty, hanged and burned at the stake on Gallow Green. One, Agnes Naismith, was said to have cursed the town with her dying words.
This dark event became Europe’s last recorded mass witch execution — a grim milestone that sets Paisley apart from anywhere else in Britain or the continent.
What About the “Last Witch” in Scotland?
Although the Paisley trials were the last group execution, there was one more tragic case years later. In 1727, in the Highland town of Dornoch, an elderly woman named Janet Horne was accused of witchcraft and burned alive — the last known execution for witchcraft in Scotland. She was condemned alone, without a mass trial or widespread panic.
So while Janet Horne was the last person, the Paisley witch hunt was the final mass witch trial and execution in Europe.
Walk the Story: The Paisley Witches Tour
If you want to truly understand what happened — to feel it, not just read it — the Paisley Witches Walking Tour offers a powerful experience. Over the course of two hours, you’ll visit:
Paisley Abbey, where the trials were influenced by religious fear
Maxwellton Cross, near the home of accuser Christian Shaw
Gallow Green, the execution site, now unmarked and largely forgotten
Guests wear personal audio headsets so you can hear every word of the guide’s storytelling — based on original trial records and local history.
For those unable to join the walking tour, an in-shop accessible version is available, shown on a 120-inch screen with full visuals and narration.
Why This History Still Matters
What happened in Paisley wasn’t an isolated incident. It reflected a broader pattern of fear, misogyny, misinformation, and scapegoating. Most of the accused were vulnerable — poor, working-class, women without power.
By walking the same streets, hearing their stories, and saying their names aloud, the Paisley Witches Tour helps visitors understand how injustice happens — and how easy it is to forget.
Every ticket also supports Renfrewshire Witch Hunt 1697 SCIO, a charity dedicated to preserving this chapter of Scottish history and educating future generations.
Make Paisley Part of the Map
Scotland’s witch trial legacy is gaining recognition — but Paisley deserves to take its rightful place in that story. This was the last mass witch hunt in Europe. That matters.
If you’re drawn to dark history, folklore, true crime, or Scotland’s hidden past, then this tour is for you.
Book Now and Walk With Purpose
Experience the tour. Remember the names. Share the story.