Wookey Witch Skeleton Row Bubbles Over

A row is brewing in the Somerset countryside over the 1000-year-old skeleton of a Saxon witch.

At the moment the skeleton is on display at Wells & Mendip Museum in Somerset. But Gerry Cottle, ex-circus owner and new owner of Wookey Hole Caves, has staked his claim on the witch's remains.

Photo: Gerry Cottle and Bridget Hobhouse with the Wookey Witch skeleton.

© Tony Boulton.

The seeds were sown for this row almost 100 years ago when an archaeologist named Herbert Balch found a woman's skeleton in a cave at Wookey Hole.

Local legend tells of a Saxon witch who'd lived in the caves in 900 AD. A local priest tried to get rid of her, and in an angry row, turned the witch to stone.

To this day visitors can see the stony outline of a witchy face on the rocky walls of the cave. Click on this link to read the legend on the Wookey Caves website.

So that was the legend. In fact the woman was probably nothing more sinister or scary than a homeless old goatherd, forced to shelter in the caves.

Her skeleton has been on display at Wells and Mendip Museum, a couple of miles from the caves, for many years. Staff there are adamant she will stay.

Photo: this is how Wookey Hole Caves look inside - a home fit for a witch?

© Wookey Hole Caves.

Bridget Hobhouse (see top photo) from Wells Museum told reporters: "They are our bones. We are an archaeological museum - and Mr Cottle is a showman. He is not having our witch."

Mr Cottle's point of view is just as clear: "When I purchased Wookey Hole I bought the witch too. This year, next year, however long it takes, we'll get her back in her cave, you'll see."

At the Wells Museum the bones are in a special room dedicated to finds from the caves. About 10,000 people visit the museum each year to find out about the history and archaeology of the area.

Wookey Hole Caves are visited by about 250,000 visitors each year. Mr Cottle believes he has a right to the skeleton because it was found at the caves.

Where do you think the skeleton should end up? Do you think it makes any difference where she was found?

When the bones were found there were some other things found with them - a comb, a milking bowl, a billhook, an alabaster ball and two goat skeletons. Do you think all of the items should be kept together?

This isn't the first time that owners of the caves have tried to get the skeleton back, it's been a sore point for years.

Perhaps they need Show Me readers to sort them all out. Use the Get in Touch page to send us your suggestions.