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BBC News
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'People are still haunted by what happened': How history's brutal witch trials still resonate now
A new book How to Kill a Witch brings a dark period of history back to grisly life – and an official tartan is being released to memorialise some of those who were tortured and killed. When King James was returning by sea to Scotland with his new wife Anne of Denmark, the voyage was plagued by bad weather – not unusual, for the famously choppy North Sea. But the king was convinced that the devil and his agents – the witches – had a hand in the storm. It was this belief of the king's that sparked the 1563 Scottish Witchcraft Act, and subsequent witch hunts. This article contains violent details some readers may find upsetting. From the 1560s to the1700s, witch-hunts ripped through Scotland, with at least 4,000 accused, and thousands of people's execution. Along the way there was unspeakable torture, involving "pilliwinks" (thumbscrews), leg-crushing boots and the "witches' bridle", among other vicious and brutal methods. In Norway and the US – where witch hunts and trials of a similar scale took place during the same period – those who were executed have been memorialised. Now, in Scotland a new official tartan – which will be incorporated into kilts and other garments – has been released to honour the victims of the Witchcraft Act. Meanwhile, all things aesthetically "witchy" have been gaining popularity around the world and across generations for several years – WitchTok gains increasing followers and hashtags; the WitchCore look is still attracting fans; witch romance fiction is a growing branch of the romantasy genre. In film and TV Practical Magic 2 is in production for release next year, and TV witch drama Domino Day has been a hit. All of which reflects the fact that neopagans and modern witches are actually on the rise. A modern witch may incorporate nature worship, tarot, magic and rituals with herbs and crystals into their spiritual practise. Involvement ranges from self-care and empowerment to participation in religious groups like Wicca. The pattern of the Witches of Scotland tartan is a "living memorial" full of symbolism, according to the Scottish Register of Tartans – "the black and grey represent the dark times of this period and the ashes of those burned, the red represents the victims' blood, and the pink symbolises the legal tapes used to bind papers both during that time and now". It's the result of a five-year-long campaign by activists and founders of the Witches of Scotland podcast Zoe Venditozzi and Claire Mitchell, who have now authored a book How to Kill a Witch: A Guide for the Patriarchy, an account of the Scottish witch trials – out this week in the UK, and in the autumn in the US. The book outlines how, as Venditozzi tells the BBC, "the belief system and social anxiety of the time created a perfect storm to find scapegoats and deal with them harshly". In 2022 the pair achieved one of their goals when Scotland's then first minister Nicola Sturgeon issued a formal apology to the Scots who were persecuted under the law in a "colossal injustice". Some female Ministers in the Church of Scotland have since also issued an apology. The subject of the witch trials is currently piquing the imaginations of fiction writers too. Hex by Jenni Fagan tells the tale of "one of the most turbulent moments in Scotland's history: the North Berwick Witch Trials". The novel Bright I Burn by Molly Aitken is a fictionalised account of the first woman in Ireland accused of being a witch. And recent historical thriller The Wicked of the Earth by AD Bergin is based around the witch trials in Newcastle, England. In How to Kill a Witch, the authors show how that moment on King James's voyage was the point from which the story unfurled. "James VI and I [he was the sixth King James of Scotland and the first of England] had a huge impact on the witch trials," explains co-author Mitchell, who is also a practicing KC (barrister) specialising in criminal law and human rights. Among "evidence" were accounts of supposed witches surfing the sea in sieves and dancing in North Berwick Church. "A few years later James wrote the book Daemonology – a 'how to' guide to find and deal with witches and other spirits". The book was widely disseminated – and his message spread rapidly. The Witchcraft Act was designed to enforce "godliness" in the newly Protestant Scotland, with the law condemning anyone who appeared to be "conspiring with the devil". "People are still haunted by what happened," says historian Judith Langlands-Scott, who has noticed a huge surge of interest in the witch trials in recent years. "King James was obsessed with the bible and believed he was God's representative – and he was obsessed with the idea that the witches were multiplying. Historians widely agree that following the death of his mother [Mary, Queen of Scots] he was brought up to think that women were feeble and easily manipulated because of their carnal desires." "In Forfar [in Angus, northern Scotland] where I come from, we've learnt that the people who were accused – most of them women – were usually older, disabled or blind people, or people with alcohol addiction. They were people who would have cost society money, who were living on the margins, and were poor and not contributing anything. The community – led by the Presbyterian Ministry – wanted to get rid of them." "The 'witch pricker' or 'brodder' – who had a financial incentive – proclaimed himself an expert at identifying witches," she says. The most prominent witch pricker of the mid-17th-Century was John Kincaid, who was known as a supposed identifier of "witch's marks" and was involved in the torture and execution of hundreds of accused women. "The accused were stripped naked and examined in front of an all-male congregation [to locate the 'marks' made by the devil] and often shaven all over their bodies." In Langlands-Scott's view, this demeaning ritual was "very psychosexual, and in Scottish Presbyterian society at the time, sex was a preoccupation". There were witch trials in England but, Langlands-Scott points out that "Ireland and Wales only had one trial each as they believed in the fairies, whereas in Scotland [their belief] was in the devil, and whoever does the devil's work" – ie. witches. For all the harrowing details in How to Kill a Witch, there are also moments of dark humour. "We've always taken a very serious approach to the facts and horrors of the witch trials, but we definitely have wry, dark humour to cope with some of the more distressing or aggravating aspects of the times," says Venditozzi. "It was always going to be a book that conveyed our personalities rather than being a dry, historical tome. To survive being a woman sometimes means being able to see the humour in terrible situations." The pomposity of the self-appointed witch hunters with their bizarre methods and feverish imaginations – are laid bare. The whole system was, after all, elaborate and outlandish. As Venditozzi puts it: "It's a clever trick isn't it, the way in which society blamed women – because they were considered so weak, the devil got to them and got into their knickers, and their confessions about this were often fairly elaborate. All to justify what they were doing. It's bananas!" The authors are not alone in seeing the darkly humorous side – recent comedy TV series The Witchfinder tapped into the ridiculousness of witch-hunting with gallows humour. More like this:• The historic roots of goth• The masterpiece of full of coded messages• Nine rare photos of 19th-Century America The book also debunks some misconceptions about the era, including the practise of "burning at the stake", says Venditozzi. "It's a caricature. They did get burnt but they were generally strangled first, then thrown on the pyre to get rid of the body, so the devil couldn't re-animate them, and so that they couldn't get to heaven." This was an extra layer of cruelty, says Langlands-Scott: "to burn the bodies so they couldn't rise on judgement day, [so] all hope of being put out of their misery would have been obliterated – as the accused would have known going to their death." Groundswell of interest The authors acknowledge that there has been a groundswell of interest in the witch trials – their podcast attracts millions of listeners from all over the world. What has the reaction to their campaign been from the modern witches of today? "We have a great deal of support and interest from modern day witches," says Venditozzi. "The key issue is that we support anyone to practise their beliefs, but that people need to understand that the 'witches' of the period were not being controlled by the devil and were, in fact, just normal people caught up in extreme times. Modern day witches empathise with the plight of the accused as they themselves are sometimes isolated and discriminated against. However, modern day witches are not the same as those accused during the Scottish witch trials." As the "WitchCore" aesthetic becomes increasingly popular and commodified, are we are in danger of romanticising the brutal torture and torment of innocent people in history? "No," says Mitchell. "The modern-day witchcraft or WitchTok is very different from the crime of witchcraft hundreds of years ago. People who identify themselves as witches in the present day are not suggesting that they are 'agents of the devil' who are doing evil in society. The modern idea of a witch is far removed from the historical definition." Langlands-Scott, puts it another way: "People are perfectly entitled to do as they like, and modern-day witches don't try to claim these people who were executed hundreds of years ago as their own. The accused were Christians – though considered heathens and heretics, most of them in the Forfar trials of 1662 [in which 42 local people were imprisoned and tortured] were Catholics. The Presbyterian Church wanted a clean, godly society after [Oliver] Cromwell left Scotland in 1651. They were ordinary people, some of whom might have practiced some folk magic but they didn't commit crimes." Author Margaret Atwood famously said that the Salem witch trials are an event that replays itself through history – when cultures come under stress. Does Venditozzi agree? "Definitely – when Atwood wrote The Handmaid's Tale, she said that all of the things in it had actually happened in Western culture, and that was in the 1980s. It was very prescient. The wheel turns but there's not much change." In the book a present-day pastor in the US is quoted warning of witches in his congregation. There is also a section about Advocacy for Alleged Witches an organisation that is "urging compassion, reason, and science to save lives of those affected by superstition". The Witches of Scotland tartan has been created in order to raise awareness and understanding, says Mitchell. "It's very important to remember our history and learn lessons from it: Scotland fares very poorly in comparison to other countries who have all memorialised those who were accused as witches." So what lessons can we learn today from the history of the witch trials? "Not to scapegoat vulnerable or isolated members of the community in order to shore up public confidence and security," says Venditozzi. "Despite the fact the witch trials were hundreds of years ago, we frequently see waves of blame against marginalised groups in times of social worry. Claire and I are very optimistic people." Langlands Scott is also optimistic. "The fact that there is a groundswell of interest to have the truth brought out, and that apologies have been made is a cause for optimism. It's mainly women who are apologising, and I think that's reclaiming the fact that it was mostly women who were tortured and tried. It's almost like giving their voice back, us women giving them a voice, and warning for the present day of what can happen." How to Kill a Witch: A Guide for the Patriarchy by Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi (Octopus) is available now in the UK, and will be published in the US this autumn, titled How to Kill a Witch: The Patriarchy's Guide to Silencing Women. -- For more Culture stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Edinburgh Reporter
30-04-2025
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
Looking back in Edinburgh history this month
1st In 1589, the King (James VI) and the Queen (Anne of Denmark) landed at Leith. And in 1612, the council instructed the treasurer to build and equip a song school in the Over Kirk yard in the same place where there was one many years before. Also in 1644, the burgh council renewed the order forbidding the wearing of plaids around and over the heads of women which was a custom adopted by strumpets, whores, and other indecent women to appear respectable. 2nd In 1597, bonfires lit up the night sky above Holyrood on the arrival in Leith of King James VI and his new Queen, Anne, daughter of the King of Denmark. 3rd In 1544, major hostilities in what Walter Scott later named 'The Rough Wooing' began with an attack on Edinburgh led by the Earl of Hertford and Viscount Lisle pictured below. 6 May 1870 3 May In 1544, major hostilities in what Walter Scott later named 'The Rough Wooing' began with an attack on Edinburgh led by the Earl of Hertford and Viscount Lisle. 5th In 1508, the provost, bailies, and council ruled that Fleshers should have their stalls and stands protected by stout canvas awning and the meat on sale covered with proper wrapping; also, that those selling the meat should be appropriately dressed with clean aprons. 6th In 1544, a letter sent to Lord Russel, Lord Privy Seal of England, the writer stated that 'It was determined … utterly to ruin and destroy Edinburgh with fire. This we did not fully achieve … However we set fire to three or four parts of the town.' And in 1870, Sir James Young Simpson, who pioneered the use of chloroform in childbirth, died in Edinburgh. Also in 1941, a 1,000-pound bomb was dropped on Milton Crescent and 100 incendiaries at Jewel Cottages; four were killed and two injured. 7th In 1589, Anne of Denmark was crowned Queen of Scotland at Holyroodhouse. And in 1674, following an agreement with the town council, Mr Peter Braus, a Dutch engineer, began work on a project to bring water from Tod's Well at Comiston in a three-inch-diameter pipe. Also in 1711, philosopher and historian David Hume was born in an Edinburgh tenement; he attended Edinburgh University from the age of twelve. Finally in 1890, James Nasmyth, engineer and inventor of the steam hammer (who was born at 47 York Place, Edinburgh), died. 8th In 1366, at Holyrood Abbey, a Council was held in which discussion over a peace with England took place; it was agreed that the assessment to raise money for the King's ransom should be voluntary; the Scottish Mint was also ordered to strike new coins for this purpose. And in 1826, Sir Henry Duncan Littlejohn, surgeon, forensic scientist, and public health official, was born in Edinburgh. 8 May 1826 9th In 1911, the famous illusionist The Great Lafayette died in a devastating fire at the Empire Palace Theatre in Edinburgh on Nicolson Street (now the site of the Festival Theatre). And in 1957, a massive fire at Bell's Brae in the Dean Village destroyed the premises of the largest theatrical costumiers outside London. 9 May 1957 10th In 1506, King James IV issued letters ordering proclamations to be made at the Mercat Cross prohibiting the packing and parcelling of goods or merchandise in Leith and in the Canongate, or the shipment of goods until the same were examined in Edinburgh and Customs duty paid to the burgh. And in 1562, the marriage of John Fleming, 5th Lord Fleming, to Elizabeth Ross, one of Mary's Ladies-in-waiting, took place; the celebration took place in part on an artificial loch specially constructed for this in the area in Holyrood Park known as Hunter's Bog. Also in 1809, Andrew Bell, who was born in Edinburgh and co-founded the Encyclopaedia Britannica, died. Finally in 1843, Robert Adamson established his photographic studio at Rock House, Calton Hill Stairs in Edinburgh; he later teamed up with David Octavius Hill to form one of the most famous photographic duos ever. 11th In 1660, a report delivered to the council on St Paul's Work recommended that a seat be provided for the children in the community loft; that there should be five residents and the children sent there be divided among them; that beds and other necessities should be provided for the children; and that the boys should be apprentices for seven years and the girls for five. 12th In 1905, a notice from the public health office outlines what measures were taken at the port of Leith in the wake of the first cases of bubonic plague being discovered as they scrambled to stop rats from getting onto vessels; it was established the family had the dreaded bubonic plague and officials wasted no time in taking measures to stop it from spreading further; tragically, the man (named as John Hughes) died but his wife and children survived; remarkably, not one of the 30 other residents in the tenement contracted the disease. 13th In 1870, Sir James Young Simpson, the West Lothian physician who pioneered the use of chloroform in childbirth, was buried in Warriston cemetery; the day had been declared a holiday in Scotland, and more than 100,000 people lined the streets of Edinburgh to see the funeral cortege pass by. 15th In 1567, Mary, Queen of Scots married James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, her third husband; the marriage took place according to Protestant rites in the Great Hall at Holyrood. 16th In 1402, at a Council-General held in Edinburgh, King Robert III (whose Christian name was John) officially pardoned the Duke of Albany (Robert, the king's next younger brother) and the Earl of Douglas for the death of David Stuart, Duke of Rothesay (the king's son and heir apparent); N.B. Since the troubled reign of King John Balliol, the name John was considered unlucky for a King of Scots. 17th In 1532, King James V established paid judges to sit as the Court of Session, the highest civil court in Scotland. And in 1590, Anne of Denmark was crowned Queen of Scotland in the Abbey Church at Holyrood. Also in 1617, King James VI returned to Edinburgh for the first time since 5 April 1603. Finally in 1870, pioneering photographer David Octavius Hill died; he is buried in Dean Cemetery beneath a sculpture of him created by his wife Amelia Paton. David Octavius Hill 17 May 1870 18th In 1843, after intense debate, 121 ministers and 73 elders led by Dr David Welsh, the retiring Moderator, quit the Church of Scotland General Assembly at Edinburgh's Church of St Andrew in George Street, to form the Free Church of Scotland. 19th In 1589, Anne of Denmark, Queen of Scotland, made her formal entry into Edinburgh with great pomp and joy. And in 1815, Catherine Thomson 'Kate' Hogarth, later wife of English novelist Charles Dickens and mother of his ten children, was born at 8 Hart Street, Edinburgh. 20th In 1747, Edinburgh-born James Lind began a controlled experiment which demonstrated that citrus fruits could prevent scurvy, a disease contracted by sailors on long voyages; the lime juice which eventually became standard issue to British sailors gave rise to the term 'limey' as a name for a Brit overseas. And in 1856, Helen Hopekirk, pianist and composer, was born in Portobello. 21st In 1650, James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, was executed by hanging at the Mercat Cross; his head was removed and stood on the 'prick on the highest stone' of the Old Tolbooth outside St Giles Cathedral until the beginning of 1661. And in 1874, the foundation stone of St Mary's Cathedral was laid by the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry; inside the stone was placed a bottle containing a copy of the Trust Deed, the Edinburgh Post Office Directory, Oliver and Boyd's Almanac, newspapers, and coins. The Millennium Windows – designed by Sir Eduardo Paolozz in St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral. Photo: © 2020, Martin P. McAdam 22nd In 1691, the council granted permission to Mr Mathias Fase, a Dutchman, to exhibit 3 Turkish people (a man, a woman, and a little boy) at any location in the Canongate. And in 1859, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes stories, was born in Edinburgh at 11 Picardy Place. 22 May 1859 24th In 1853, the Adelphi Theatre in Broughton Street was completely destroyed by fire. 25th In 1726, the first circulating library opened in Edinburgh. And in 1859, the last performance at the Theatre Royal in Shakespeare Square was staged. Also in 1896, the Foundation Stone of the New North Bridge was laid. 25 May 1896 25th 1859: The original theatre by Shakespeare Square being demolished later that year to make way for the grand GPO building that would replace it. (Photograph Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal) 27th In 1661, Archibald Campbell, 8th Earl and 1st Marquis of Argyll, was beheaded on the Maiden at the Mercat Cross; his head replaced that of Montrose, his royalist enemy, on the Tolbooth. And in 1928, Thea Musgrave, composer of opera and classical music, was born in Barnton. 28th In 1573, the siege of Edinburgh Castle finally ended. And in 1811, Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, died in Edinburgh at the age of 69; Dundas was a lawyer and politician whose professional career led him into disrepute, ending with him becoming the last ever person to be impeached in the House of Lords; his deft and almost total control of Scottish politics during a long period when no monarch visited the country, led to him being pejoratively nicknamed King Harry the Ninth; he became infamous for obstructing moves to bring about an end to the slave trade in the 1790s. Also in 1905, construction of the King's Theatre in Edinburgh commenced. 28 May 1573 29th In 1687, the Order of the Thistle was founded by King James VII; he directed that the Abbey Church at the Palace of Holyroodhouse be converted to a Chapel for the Order of the Thistle; however, he was deposed in 1688 and the Chapel had been destroyed during riots; the Order did not have a Chapel until 1911, when one was added onto St Giles High Kirk in Edinburgh. 30th In 1936, Portobello Open Air Pool was opened at a cost of £90,000. 31st In 1878, Eugene Chantrelle, a Frenchman, was executed by hanging within Calton Jail for poisoning his wife, Elizabeth. And in 1962, the Gaumont cinema in Edinburgh was destroyed by fire. Also in 2014, Trams formally returned to Edinburgh streets. 31 May 1962 Find out about joining the club by emailing membership@ Like this: Like Related
The National
29-04-2025
- The National
The Scottish city that's curiously underrated and overlooked
Losing city status in 1975 must have hurt a historic hub and erstwhile capital where Scotland's monarchs were once crowned on our most famous hulk of sandstone. Last year that stone fulfilled its destiny, returning as centre stage at the sparkling new Perth Museum, a crowning symbol of a proud city that should never just be somewhere you flash by on the A9. Perth's sheer accessibility has long been both a bane and a boon. Perthshire's capital is brilliantly connected – unlike Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness, it is woven into Scotland's motorway network, it's a fulcrum for accessing the Highlands, and myriad trains converge here. There is even a Sleeper service to London. Perth is often curiously underrated and overlooked within Scotland, but outwith our borders others are quicker to see the charms of Sir Walter Scott's 'Fair City'. Perth was the first city in the UK awarded Cittaslow status in 2008, a nod to its civic promotion of wellbeing and quality of life, instead of development for development's sake. City status finally returned in 2012. (Image: Wirestock) Given the fantastic produce of the Perthshire hinterland it's no surprise Perth welcomed Scotland's first farmers' market and further foodie acclaim came with Perth being hailed 'Scotland's Food Town of the Year' in 2018. This clean, green city is also a 'Champion of Champions' in the Britain in Bloom competition. Rightmove even named Perth Scotland's happiest place (and the UK's fifth) in 2020. Perth's setting helps. The easily navigable and flat core sits right on the Tay, Scotland's longest river. Perth's original medieval walled plan is pretty much still intact, breaking off west of the river and neatly bookmarking the historic centre are the spacious civic parks of North Inch and South Inch. Local legend insists King James VI became so enraged with his soldiers enjoying the embryonic sport of golf here instead of practising their archery skills he had the sport that Scotland gave the world banned. At the heart of the city's current renaissance is the new Perth Museum, which sits right at the heart of Perth by St John's Kirk, which lends the city its other moniker of 'St John's Toun', a name adopted by its Premiership football team, who won both Scottish cups in 2021. It was here John Knox fired his congregation into such a frenzy in 1559 they trashed the kirk and went on a rampage, sacking the local monasteries, as the flames of the Scottish Reformation ignited. The centrepiece of the £27 million Museum is, of course, that stone. To be fair they turn the potentially prosaic visit to a featureless lump of sandstone into quite a show, and there is real depth beyond the Stone of Destiny too. You sweep from prehistoric Perthshire settlers to worlds when Pictish kings made their power grabs, Viking longships marauded on the Tay and Roman legionnaires were sent hame tae think again. (Image: Robin McKelvie) A current highlight at Perth Museum is a temporary exhibition – which opened on April 25 – that takes a deep dive into Scotland's most notorious monarch, aiming to explore the real stories beyond the myths of Macbeth. You can follow Macbeth's trail around Perthshire, with a yew and oak on the banks of the Tay at Dunkeld the remnants of the ancient Birnham Wood that would have stood when Shakespeare visited in 1599 as he toured with a troop of actors performing their play. You can yomp up Dunsinane Hill too, though you'll be waiting a while on Birnham Wood marching here as it is long gone. At least you have until August 31 to visit the exhibition. More culture beckons at Perth Concert Hall and Perth Art Gallery. The gallery has been beefed up with the arrival of the collection of Scottish colourist John Duncan Fergusson (1874–1961), which moved from its standalone gallery just before the Perth Museum opened. You learn of his links with Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Picasso. Margaret Morris, his accompanied dancer and choreographer wife, is given a welcome stronger voice here too. The museum and gallery are worth visiting Perth for alone, but don't make the mistake of leaving straight after. Instead amble to the Watergate on the Tay, a quayside once alive with traders, clambering with the languages of the Low Countries and various Baltic brogues. French claret and Spanish silk swept in; the same ships leaving again laden with drams and fish. Keep an eye out for our furry friends from the riverside walkway as Perth in 2021 welcomed the UK's first city beavers in centuries. (Image: North Port Perth) On George Street there is evidence of a city bounce that can only have been helped by the museum opening. The Bean Shop is a zeitgeist-pleasing artisan coffee roasters who supply Perth Museum's cafe with a dedicated 'Destiny' blend. The quality artisan vibe continues at the Perth Distillery. The Scottish Gin Awards Gold Medal-winning Perth Pink, which makes the most of Perthshire's famed raspberries, is the star of the show. If you want to savour a real show head out with History and Horror Tours for a ghostly exploration of nocturnal Perth. Staff-carrying storyteller Gary Knight, who has written books on Perth, weaves a rich and colourful narrative that doesn't need jump scares to entertain as you learn about this multifaced city and its engaging history. A highlight is exclusive night access to the Sixteenth- Century Blackfriars Graveyard. Outdoor Explore offers a tour of a totally different nature as they eke you out on to the Tay in a kayak in search of 'Perth's Wildlife Big Five', including those beavers and their dams. Perth makes most sense from the water as you appreciate how it grew as the highest navigable point on the Tay. This is a city deeply connected both to its history and the glorious Perthshire countryside that unfurls all around. And Perth is definitely not a city you should just flash by on the A9. Bed down in Perth Mercure Perth Hotel Not many hotels boast a waterwheel churning its way through reception. The Mercure Perth Hotel does and it's no tacky addition but part of the old lade network that used to power Perth. The hotel has won an award for how skilfully it has preserved its old mill heritage and woven a modern, comfortable hotel around it. Very Perth. It has a handy central location too and is close to the famous Simon Howie butchers so you can nab goodies to take home as you leave. Parklands Hotel Perth's Lord Provost used to preside over the city from this stately old stone dame overlooking South Inch Park. There are only 15 bedrooms in a four star that feels both intimate and relaxed. They have the No1 The Bank Bistro and the beer garden terrace is a great space on a sunny day. Murrayshall Sleep in the shadows of Scottish Royalty close to Scone Palace. The owners have equally lofty ambitions, aiming to rival Gleneagles. A sweep of eating and drinking options, golf and spa facilities echo their Perthshire hotel sibling. It's only a short drive from Perth but has a real countryside vibe with easy access to local walks too.
Scottish Sun
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
The UK's most beautiful Toby Carvery restaurants revealed – including a stunning 18th century mansion house
One former pub was even visited by Winston Churchill ALL GRAVY The UK's most beautiful Toby Carvery restaurants revealed – including a stunning 18th century mansion house Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AS the April showers return to the UK, there is nothing better than a warming roast dinner. And the chain restaurant Toby Carvery not only serves up a bargain meal, but some are in some stunning buildings. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 12 We've rounded up some of the prettiest Toby Carvery chains restaurants Credit: Google maps Here are five of the most beautiful Toby Carvery restaurants to explore across the country. Toby Carvery Bolton Built within an 18th century property, the Toby Carvery in Bolton is certainly a beautiful building. Also known as the Watermillock, it was built as a Gentleman's Country House before becoming a WWI hospital and children's hostel. In 2020, it underwent a huge renovation with new carpets and lighting as well as restoring some of the external decor. A current offer means Brits can snap up a roast dinner at the Bolton carvery for just £6. 12 Toby Carvery Wattermillock is an 18th century building in Bolton Credit: Google maps 12 The restaurant was restored back in 2020 Credit: Google maps 12 You can even host weddings at the Toby Carvery Credit: Google maps Toby Carvery Endon The Staffordshire Toby Carvery is built within a former hotel dating back to the 1900s. It is also home to a famous mural created which claims to be the largest pub sign in the UK. Make sure to visit before May 19 - the carvery will be shutting for five weeks ahead of a £500,000 renovation. The owner stated: "We're hoping after the site is refurbished guests come and visit to appreciate the mural in person." 12 Toby Carvery Endon is a former hotel built in the 1990s Credit: Google maps 12 Next month it will undergo a £500k renovation including of the famous mural Credit: Google maps Toby Carvery Liberton The Scottish Toby Carvery in Liberton is part of the historic Howden Hall Road. Dating back to the 16th century, the grounds are home to the Balm Well of St Catherine. Even visited by James VI, the oil from the well was said to be a cure for skin ailments. No longer in use, people now rave about the huge beer garden, which is in the large outdoor park area. 12 Toby Carvery Liberton dates back to the 16th century Credit: pacificbuilding 12 The restaurant interior is also on the fancier end Credit: Google maps Toby Carvery Snaresbrook Originally an 18th century pub, Toby Carvery took over in 1998. Previously called The Eagle pub, it was even visited by Winston Churchill. Now the carvery, the London restaurant is highly praised. One person even said it was the "best Toby Carvery they've visited" on Tripadvisor. 12 Toby Carvery Snaresbrook was a former pub visited by Winston Churchill Credit: Alamy Toby Carvery Whitewebbs House One of the most beautiful Toby Carvery restaurants in the UK, it recently came under fire for felling an ancient 500-year-old tree. But the building itself is a historic 18th century former house in the middle of Whitewebbs Park in Enfield. Built in the 1790s in a French style, it was eve rumoured to have been a safe house once visited by Guy Fawkes. And guests can walk off their roast dinner in the beautiful surrounding forest too. 12 Toby Carvery Whitewebbs is a former 18th century mansion Credit: Google maps 12 The building was based on the French style of the time Credit: Google maps
The Sun
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
The UK's most beautiful Toby Carvery restaurants revealed – including a stunning 18th century mansion house
AS the April showers return to the UK, there is nothing better than a warming roast dinner. And the chain restaurant Toby Carvery not only serves up a bargain meal, but some are in some stunning buildings. Here are five of the most beautiful Toby Carvery restaurants to explore across the country. Toby Carvery Bolton Built within an 18th century property, the Toby Carvery in Bolton is certainly a beautiful building. Also known as the Watermillock, it was built as a Gentleman's Country House before becoming a WWI hospital and children's hostel. In 2020, it underwent a huge renovation with new carpets and lighting as well as restoring some of the external decor. A current offer means Brits can snap up a roast dinner at the Bolton carvery for just £6. 12 12 12 Toby Carvery Endon The Staffordshire Toby Carvery is built within a former hotel dating back to the 1900s. It is also home to a famous mural created which claims to be the largest pub sign in the UK. Make sure to visit before May 19 - the carvery will be shutting for five weeks ahead of a £500,000 renovation. The owner stated: "We're hoping after the site is refurbished guests come and visit to appreciate the mural in person." 12 12 Toby Carvery Liberton The Scottish Toby Carvery in Liberton is part of the historic Howden Hall Road. Dating back to the 16th century, the grounds are home to the Balm Well of St Catherine. Even visited by James VI, the oil from the well was said to be a cure for skin ailments. No longer in use, people now rave about the huge beer garden, which is in the large outdoor park area. 12 12 Toby Carvery Snaresbrook Originally an 18th century pub, Toby Carvery took over in 1998. Previously called The Eagle pub, it was even visited by Winston Churchill. Now the carvery, the London restaurant is highly praised. One person even said it was the "best Toby Carvery they've visited" on Tripadvisor. Toby Carvery Whitewebbs House One of the most beautiful Toby Carvery restaurants in the UK, it recently came under fire for felling an ancient 500-year-old tree. But the building itself is a historic 18th century former house in the middle of Whitewebbs Park in Enfield. Built in the 1790s in a French style, it was eve rumoured to have been a safe house once visited by Guy Fawkes. And guests can walk off their roast dinner in the beautiful surrounding forest too. 12 12 12
