50 – Bronze Cauldron

Physical description:

Large plain bronze cauldron.

Museum classification:

Working Tools

Information:

Original text by Cecil Williamson: 'Old Martha Whitchalse's brazen cauldron.'
See also 49.

 

CWOLC 9792 reads:

"This is the Dartmoor Cauldron of all cauldrons.

Every indication points to the fact that it was Cast at the WINCANTON FOUNDRY in 1646. Traders in Tavistock are know to have had dealings with the Wincanton FOUNDRY Dartmoor legends tell of a witch woman of Evil repute living in the SAMPFORD SPINEY area who was the proud possessor of a Shining Brazen Cauldron with which she worked much magic. Raising mists and hypnotizing strong men and much much more. What is certain is the fact that this cauldron was at one time in a northland cottage situated on the northern side of YAR TOR above the Walla Brook stream and not far from the settlement of SHERWELL. The cottage belonged to or was occupied by old MARTHA WHITCHALSE a woman reputed to have the Evil Eye. She lost her husband early while and her son left home in his terms having been in trouble with the law. Moorfolk built up legends around mother WHITCHALSE as the years passed. The known facts are that she was a person feared by many she lived alone, and died alone in this remote cottage on YARTAR [sic]. Now demolished there was a sadness in her life. She used a bronze cauldron not an iron one and worked magic with it. In 1922 a Retired Naval officer living in Plympton and a Kern student of Dartmoor History and Legend spotted mother whitchalse's cauldron in a farmhouse where tourists stopped for Devonshire cream teas in POSTBRIDGE. Sitting on the open hearth of the old farm fire place he persuadid [sic persuaded] the then owner to part with it at a price. Some years later a local amateur theatrical group in Plymouth were putting on a Shakespeare's play MACBETH and they Borrowed the cauldron for the farmers witches scene. Later a whole series of tragic happens took place affecting members of the amateur theatrical group. Soon some person set the story going that all of the deaths and misfortunes were due to using Martha Whitchalse's cauldron. This so upset its owner - that with out telling any one he took it out and dumped it and to his dying day kept the spot chosen for its disposal secret. In 1982 while metal detector exploring or the one time Plympton Rubbish dump long closed and grassed over located in CHELSON MEADOW near SALTRAM HOUSE the cauldron gave a loud ping - and eventually came to the museum. Strange to tell way back in 1931 when researching old MARTHA WHITCHLASE and her ruined cottage acquired from a nearly former har Chimney ROTHOOK ARM. Now they are reunited once MORE."

Resource:

Object

Materials:

Bronze

Copyright ownership:

Copyright to The Museum of Witchcraft Ltd.

Original text by Cecil Williamson: 'Old Martha Whitchalse's brazen cauldron.'
See also 49.

 

CWOLC 9792 reads:

"This is the Dartmoor Cauldron of all cauldrons.

Every indication points to the fact that it was Cast at the WINCANTON FOUNDRY in 1646. Traders in Tavistock are know to have had dealings with the Wincanton FOUNDRY Dartmoor legends tell of a witch woman of Evil repute living in the SAMPFORD SPINEY area who was the proud possessor of a Shining Brazen Cauldron with which she worked much magic. Raising mists and hypnotizing strong men and much much more. What is certain is the fact that this cauldron was at one time in a northland cottage situated on the northern side of YAR TOR above the Walla Brook stream and not far from the settlement of SHERWELL. The cottage belonged to or was occupied by old MARTHA WHITCHALSE a woman reputed to have the Evil Eye. She lost her husband early while and her son left home in his terms having been in trouble with the law. Moorfolk built up legends around mother WHITCHALSE as the years passed. The known facts are that she was a person feared by many she lived alone, and died alone in this remote cottage on YARTAR [sic]. Now demolished there was a sadness in her life. She used a bronze cauldron not an iron one and worked magic with it. In 1922 a Retired Naval officer living in Plympton and a Kern student of Dartmoor History and Legend spotted mother whitchalse's cauldron in a farmhouse where tourists stopped for Devonshire cream teas in POSTBRIDGE. Sitting on the open hearth of the old farm fire place he persuadid [sic persuaded] the then owner to part with it at a price. Some years later a local amateur theatrical group in Plymouth were putting on a Shakespeare's play MACBETH and they Borrowed the cauldron for the farmers witches scene. Later a whole series of tragic happens took place affecting members of the amateur theatrical group. Soon some person set the story going that all of the deaths and misfortunes were due to using Martha Whitchalse's cauldron. This so upset its owner - that with out telling any one he took it out and dumped it and to his dying day kept the spot chosen for its disposal secret. In 1982 while metal detector exploring or the one time Plympton Rubbish dump long closed and grassed over located in CHELSON MEADOW near SALTRAM HOUSE the cauldron gave a loud ping - and eventually came to the museum. Strange to tell way back in 1931 when researching old MARTHA WHITCHLASE and her ruined cottage acquired from a nearly former har Chimney ROTHOOK ARM. Now they are reunited once MORE."