Inside Newcastle's Witch Trials: Dr. Katie Liddane at The Black Gate

On a cool evening in Newcastle upon Tyne, The Black Gate at Castle Garth becomes less a relic than a stage. The Black Gate, part of the city's medieval castle complex at The Black Gate, Castle Garth, NE1 1RQ, hosts a one-hour talk by Dr. Katie Liddane that marks the 376th anniversary of the Newcastle Witch Trials. Gather in the Harbottle Suite on Floor 2, where stone walls and narrow windows make history feel immediate. Dr. Katie Liddane, an expert in the supernatural and social history of the North East with a focus on seventeenth-century witch-trials, guides the evening. Her talk walks through the seventeenth-century pressures—sieges, plagues, harvest failure and strict Puritan belief systems—that fed fears of witchcraft. You’ll hear the stories of accused people, the mechanisms of accusation and detention, and the local context that turned rumor into legal action. The program includes a timed Q&A and a chance to inspect artifacts and the Black Gate space itself. What makes this event special is its setting: this is exactly the place where a supposed witch was once held before the Newcastle Witch Trials. The Harbottle Suite is accessible by lift, and the talk is held in a room whose medieval fabric—battered stone walls and narrow embrasures—amplifies testimony and adds a tactile layer to the scholarship. Doors open at 17:45 and the talk begins at 18:00; expect roughly an hour of presentation plus time for audience questions. Practical details are straightforward. Check in at The Black Gate reception on Floor 1, then head up to the Harbottle Suite on Floor 2. The venue runs a gift shop and offers hot and cold drinks for purchase. The event is wheelchair accessible and suited to anyone curious about local history, folklore, or legal and social history of the Early Modern period. Bring a notebook for surprising details, and prepare questions—the Q&A is noted as a highlight. This evening works equally well for history buffs and casual visitors who want a compact, expertly guided exploration of a difficult chapter in Newcastle’s past. The talk connects place and narrative: the stones under your hands link you directly to seventeenth-century concerns about survival, belief and blame. Whether you're visiting Newcastle upon Tyne or live locally, this is an accessible, sharply focused way to understand how ordinary crises warped legal cultures and ruined lives. Arrive early to browse the gift shop and pick up recommended reading; staff can advise on related walks around Castle Garth and the Castle Keep, and the venue makes a thoughtful stop before an evening meal or a riverside walk along the nearby Tyne. Tickets are available via the booking link in advance, online only.