Molly Downer

Molly Downer was reportedly the last witch on the Isle of Wight.

Downer was the illegitimate daughter of a local vicar, the Reverend Barwis of Niton, who left a small amount of money to subsist on. She lived at Hillway near Bembridge. Attractive and attracted to men, she failed to find a husband and became increasingly morose and isolated. Her closest relationship with a female friend ended when she got married. After this she became increasingly reclusive and appeared to have begun suffering from Diogenes syndrome. Local people began to consider her a witch and one woman called Harriet began to taunt and harass her, resulting in Molly cursing her that should any good fortune fall upon her,she would might die before possession, which duly happened in 1847. Rare visitors to her cottage, often "charitable" ladies pressing religious tracts upon her (which she studiously ignored), reported it to be hung with bottles containing unknown liquids and dolls with pins in them.^[1]

Many local people attested to her curative powers as a "charmer" against minor illnesses. Eventually she was found dead by a woman who lent her books, and was buried without rites in Brading Churchyard.^[2]

Legacy

There is a poem about Downer by J. Brammell in Ballads of the Isle of Wight.

"Molly Downer" is the name of an ale from Ventnor Brewery.

References

Isle of Wight Miscellany by E.Hartnall (1844)