Undated burial, Mill Street (EHER 16178)

On 9th May 1921, Mr Booker found a female skeleton in his garden at Mill Street, St Osyth.

On 9th May 1921, Mr Booker found two female skeletons in his garden at Mill Street, St Osyth. One skeleton was riveted at the joints at ankles, knees, wrists, and elbows. It is thought that this might be Ursula Kemp, an alleged witch of St Osyth, tried at Chelmsford in 1582 and hanged <6>. The second skeleton could have been that of Elizabeth Bennett, also an alleged witch, but it was discarded on discovery so (as with Ursula Kemp) the identity remains unproven,<1><2> One source reports that this skeleton also had rivetted limbs <4>. A letter in Essex Countryside discusses the first skeleton, it was believed to have been removed to Cornwall (Witches Museum, Boscastle) and later may have been sold to the Salem Museum Massachusetts. The same source says that "several other skeletons had been unearthed during the excavation for a house nearby". <3> <4><5><7> More recent research has placed doubt on the original interpretations of these skeletons as witches. Ursley and Elizabeth were hanged on Rainsford Road in Chelmsford and Marion Gibson believes that they were likely buried nearby. <8> St Osyth's museum website reports that Charles Brooker discovered the skeletons whilst digging for sand. Charles thought because they lay in a north – south orientation, they could possibly be the St Osyth Witches. The discovery caused quite a stir and Charles was quick to realise that there was an opportunity to make money. So he put a fence around the skeletons and started charging visitors. He even printed and sold postcards of the skeletons. <9> There were nails found driven through the skeletons' knees and elbows but Paul, Charles Broker's grandson reported that his grandfather had placed them there himself. <10> The venture was brought to a halt when the cottages mysteriously burnt down. The curse of the witches was blamed but Charles grandson Paul later told the Clacton and Frinton Gazette that he thought Charles had accidentally knocked over an oil lamp whilst drinking. The skeletons remained buried for 30 years until Paul’s father wanted to build a house on the site. <9> The skeleton of what was thought to be Ursula Kempe was exorcised and sold for £99 to Boscastle Museum of Witches. The skeleton was later purchased by Robert Lenkiewicz, an eccentric Plymouth artist. <9> The skeleton was analysed around 2011 and was discovered to be that of a man. He was reburied in St Osyth in 2011 <8>