Book aims to shed new light on Harborough witch mysteries

Author Radcliff Gregory, who lives in Bagworth, has spent several years researching the book - called The Bygone Magic and Witchcraft of Leicestershire and Rutland.

In it, he covers the tale of a woman from Harborough who was said to have given birth to a cat, and a previously known story of how nine innocent women were hanged in Husbands Bosworth - although the author says he has discovered that the witness who condemned them had a record for making false accusations.

Mr Gregory said: “My new book includes a lot of new research and major discoveries about the fascinating history of witchcraft in Leicestershire and Rutland - not just the well-trodden path of the Belvoir witches and the women who were hanged in Husband’s Bosworth.

“It covers the length and breadth of Leicestershire and Rutland.

“While a lot of the claims and accusations made against, and by, are eyebrow-raising to say the least, I have burrowed like a rabid dog to find the objective truth.”

Mr Gregory is deaf and disabled and left school with no qualifications.

However, he eventually graduated from Loughborough University with a first-class BA (Hons) degree in English Literature and Linguistics.

His book, The Bygone Magic and Witchcraft of Leicestershire and Rutland, costs £10 including postage and is available at www.reprintuk.com/books/magicwitchcraft or on 01509 267 450,