Discover the chilling history behind Paisley’s role in Scotland’s witch-hunting era — from the Bargarran witch trials to the memorial that still stands today.
The Witch-Hunt Era in Scotland
In 1563, the Scottish Parliament passed the Witchcraft Act, making the practice of sorcery or dealings with the Devil a capital offence. This was heavily influenced by the Protestant Reformation and a literal reading of scripture — especially Exodus 22:18: “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”
Between the 16th and 18th centuries, over 4,000 people were tried for witchcraft in Scotland. Many were tortured into confessions and executed by strangulation and burning. Across Europe, tens of thousands suffered the same fate.
Why Renfrewshire Joined Late — But Violently
For nearly a century, Renfrewshire remained mostly untouched by the panic. But in 1664, John Hamilton, minister of Inverkip, was accused of accepting a bribe from a suspected witch. He was cleared, but the woman died in prison awaiting trial.
From that point, fear began to take root. Inverkip, Greenock, Kilmacolm, and Inchinnan all gained reputations as centres of alleged sorcery. But it was Paisley that would soon take centre stage in one of Scotland’s most horrifying witch trials.
The Pollok Witch Case (1677)
When Sir John Maxwell of Pollok died in 1676, locals blamed witchcraft. It was claimed that six people — five women and one man — had created a wax figure of Maxwell, stabbed it with pins, and melted it to bring about his death.
All six were found guilty. On 20 February 1677, they were strangled and burned at the stake on the Gallowgreen — an execution site near today’s Maxwellton Street in Paisley.
Christian Shaw and the Bargarran Witch Trials (1697)
The most infamous witch trial in Scottish history began in 1696 when 11-year-old Christian Shaw, daughter of the Laird of Bargarran (near Bishopton), fell seriously ill. She experienced fits, vomiting of strange objects, and blamed several people in her community for bewitching her.
Some historians suggest Christian may have been influenced by stories of the Salem witch trials in America, which her father may have encountered during a visit to the colonies.
Her accusations triggered widespread panic and an official investigation ordered by the Privy Council.
Witch-Pricking, Confessions, and Convictions
Twenty-one people across Renfrewshire were arrested. They were subjected to the brutal practice of witch-pricking — where sharp needles were used to search for “Devil’s marks” on their skin, believed to confirm a pact with the Devil.
Three men and four women were convicted of bewitching Christian Shaw.
Executions at Maxwellton Cross
On 10 June 1697, the seven convicted individuals were taken to the Gallowgreen. There, in front of a large crowd, they were strangled and burned. It was Scotland’s final mass execution for witchcraft.
One of the trial commissioners, William Cunningham of Craigends, was later made an honorary burgess of Paisley.
As for Christian Shaw — she recovered soon after the executions and went on to become a successful entrepreneur. She later founded the Bargarran Thread Company, which helped spark Paisley’s rise as a textile town.
The End of the Witch Trials in Scotland
The last known witch execution in Scotland took place in Dornoch in 1722. The Witchcraft Act was repealed in 1736, marking the end of formal witch-hunting in the country.
But the psychological and cultural scars of this dark period lingered for centuries.
Remembering Paisley’s Witches
In 2008, a memorial was erected at Maxwellton Cross — the site of the 1697 executions. The simple but powerful inscription reads:
“Pain inflicted, suffering endured, injustice done.”
Today, the Paisley witch trials are remembered through local history, ghost tours, and educational programmes. The Bargarran witches were not evil figures — they were victims of fear, prejudice, and an unforgiving system.
Why This History Still Matters
Paisley’s role in the end of Scotland’s witch-hunting era carries a heavy weight. It serves as a stark warning of what happens when hysteria overtakes justice, and when communities allow fear to dehumanise the innocent.
These were ordinary people — neighbours, friends, family members — whose lives were taken not by dark forces, but by their own society.
Remembering them today isn’t just about honouring the past. It’s about ensuring we never repeat it.
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