Historians have uncovered evidence that the chapel, built during the 15th century, was a prison for accused witches while they faced trial and before they were taken away to be executed.
Many historians believe that Aberdeen buried more witches than any other city.
An iron ring in the north wall of the chapel is all that's left of it's murderous past.
Records have been discovered from Aberdeen's city archives revealing that this ring was installed to chain the witches up while they were being held in the prison.
Aberdeen has meticulous records of their witch trials.
These records include payments to the black smith for installing the iron rings that were used to imprison the accused.
They discovered that 23 women and one man were tried and executed for witchcraft in the city during the Great Scottish Witch Hunt of 1597.
This ring was installed specially to secure those who had been accused of committing witchcraft.
In the photo below we see the last place people saw before they were taken off to be killed and their bodies burned.
In 1597 Scotland was in the middle of it's great Witch Hunt under the order of King James VI of Scotland. (that's the King below)
Aberdeen has meticulous records of their witch trials.
These records include payments to the black smith for installing the iron rings that were used to imprison the accused.
They discovered that 23 women and one man were tried and executed for witchcraft in the city during the Great Scottish Witch Hunt of 1597.
They had everything needed for witchhunting – peat for burning, tar barrels, rope and stakes.
The city’s records include a detailed cost of materials that were used to tar and burn the accused women.
Like so many other stories of accusations of witchcraft, they were often made by people in the community who just maybe perhaps had a motive to see the accused convicted.
The names and crimes of each ‘witch’ are recorded in the city’s records and signed by the provost of the time. There's even a plaque with Alexander's name still in the church. (See below)
Each of those found guilty of witchcraft were taken from St Mary’s chapel, strangled and then their bodies were burned.
No remains of the witches have been found at the site, but excavations at the church have found the remains of more than 2,000 individuals buried at the site.
The remains of the accused “witches” would have been buried somewhere else near or on “unhallowed ground.”
