A new tartan has been registered in Scotland as a memorial to those persecuted under the country’s Witchcraft Act, a law that led to the execution of thousands—mostly women—between 1563 and 1736. The Witches of Scotland tartan, designed by Clare Campbell of the Prickly Thistle mill, is part of a wider campaign pushing for formal recognition of the injustices suffered by those accused of witchcraft.
Tartan has long been more than just a pattern in Scotland. Traditionally associated with clans, regions, and identity, it carries deep symbolic meaning. The Witches of Scotland tartan follows in this tradition, using its design to tell a story. The predominant black and grey tones reference the dark chapter of history and the ashes of those burned at the stake. Red threads represent the bloodshed, while pink is a nod to the legal tapes binding trial documents. Even the thread count encodes key dates related to the Witchcraft Act’s enforcement.
The campaign behind the tartan, also named Witches of Scotland, was founded in 2020 by Claire Mitchell KC and Zoe Venditozzi. Their three main objectives are clear: a legal pardon for those convicted, a formal government apology, and the creation of national memorials. While an official pardon has yet to be granted, the movement has gained significant traction. In 2022, Nicola Sturgeon issued a formal apology, acknowledging the injustice and drawing a direct line between the misogyny that fuelled witch trials and the discrimination women continue to face today.
“This parliament has issued, rightly so, formal apologies and pardons for the more recent historic injustices suffered by gay men and by miners,” Sturgeon said at the time. “For some, this is not yet historic. There are parts of our world where even today, women and girls face persecution and sometimes death because they have been accused of witchcraft.”
Despite this recognition, campaigners argue that an apology alone is not enough. They want legal exoneration for the thousands who were branded as witches, a move that would formally acknowledge the extent of the injustice. Scotland is not the first country to confront its history of witch trials—both Norway and Massachusetts have granted posthumous pardons—but it remains one of the worst offenders in terms of sheer numbers. An estimated 4,000 people were accused of witchcraft in Scotland, and around 2,500 were executed, a rate five times higher than anywhere else in Europe at the time.
The reasons behind these mass persecutions were complex but often rooted in a desire to control women, particularly those who practised midwifery, folk medicine, or simply lived outside the constraints of societal norms. The accusations provided an outlet for fear, religious fervour, and local disputes, while the trials themselves often relied on forced confessions and torture.
The Witches of Scotland tartan is intended as a “living memorial,” ensuring that this history is not forgotten. The proceeds from its sale will go towards furthering the campaign’s aims, with any weaving of the tartan requiring permission from an officer of the organisation. It is an attempt to weave remembrance into daily life, using fabric as a means of historical reflection.
The campaign’s push for national memorials is particularly significant. While there are scattered plaques and markers, there is no central monument recognising those who were persecuted under the Witchcraft Act. In contrast, countries such as Germany and Switzerland have permanent memorials dedicated to their victims of witch trials.
The enduring relevance of Scotland’s witch trials is clear. The same forces that led to these executions—misogyny, fear of female autonomy, and a need to police women’s roles—are still at play today. While women are no longer burned at the stake, they continue to face online abuse, harassment, and violence simply for existing in public spaces. The campaign is not just about addressing the past, but about acknowledging the ways in which its legacy still shapes society.