MEG SHELTON – WITCH OF WOODPLUMPTON

MEG SHELTON – WITCH OF WOODPLUMPTON

In the old Lancashire village of Woodplumpton, stands the church of St. Annes.
The church was originally built in the 11th Century, and rebuilt in 1639.
In 1900, it was rebuilt ahain, with the structure that stands today.

Among the many headstones in its burial ground, is the very distinctive sight of a large boulder partially buried in the ground.

In front of it, a small sign reads:

“The Witch’s Grave.
Beneath this stone lies the remains of
Meg Shelton
Alleged witch of Woodplumpton
Buried in 1705.”

How did a suspected witch come to be interred in a Christian burial place?
Also, why is a boulder placed on top?

Meg Shelton, also known as Mag Shelton or Margery Hilton, actually lived in the nearby village of Catforth.
Meg became known as the Fylde Witch, through a series of accounts concerning her mischief.

Many of these involved shape shifting and using occult power to steal from the local community – especially farmers.

Meg reputedly walked with a pronounced limp, said to be the result of an injury obtained while she was in the form of a rabbit!

Meg had a bet with her landlord that she could turn into a rabbit and race his dogs from the village of Wesham where he lived, to her cottage in Catforth which she rented from him.

The winning prize was to be that she took ownership of the cottage.

Meg attempted to ensure her victory by insisting the landlord did not let loose his largest and fiercest black dog on the grounds.

Of course, he double crossed her and released the dog, which proceeded to bite Meg’s hind leg, just as she got through the cottage door.

Many stories also have Meg stealing milk from farmers’ cows using a jug disguised as a goose 🤔

The farmer did not initially pay attention to Meg walking her goose through his field – until he saw milk dripping from the goose’s bill.

Approaching the goose, he gave it a kick and it transformed back into a jug, which then shattered.
The milk spilled from the shattered jug, and an infuriated Meg flew away.

Another tale had Meg transform herself into a sack of corn, in order to hide in a farmer’s barn, and steal his food.

The farmer was somewhat smarter than she realised, and noticed there was one sack too many.

He stabbed each sack with a pitchfork, to make sure they were all filled with corn.
Meg let out a scream and returned to her human form, before fleeing the scene.

Meg eventually died in an accident, when she was crushed between a barrel and a wall, in 1705.

Despite her reputation, it was decided to lay her to rest at the village church of nearby Woodplumpton.

However, two attempts at burial apparently resulted in Meg digging herself out again!!

Eventually, she was put head first into the ground during a ceremony taking place at midnight.

A large boulder was placed on top to prevent her getting out again.

To this day, the boulder remains in place, and can be visited anytime.

However, the question remains as to whether Meg still occupies her grave…

Rumours have persisted that the “Fylde Hag” still walks.
The most famous account dates from the 1920s when a family visited the picturesque church at Woodplumpton.

Their excited young son ran in first, then came running out again, traumatised.
He claimed a haggard old woman had chased him.

Assuming this was not some poor church lady doing the flowers, can it be assumed it was old Meg – the Witch of Woodplumpton, having her last laugh?

🖤 A boulder in a Lancashire burial ground marks the grave of alleged 17th century witch Meg Shelton.