WITCH-HUNTING is at the heart of a new mural revealed in Haddington.

‘Witch 1 Were You?’ was designed and painted by historian, artist and writer Charles Fletcher.

The mural, completed last month, is on the front of MADE in East Lothian’s Arts Hub on Haddington’s Hardgate.

It was commissioned by the art group as part of a community art project and funded by Haddington and Lammermuir Area Partnership (HALAP).

Charles, who is based in the Borders, said: “The mural is based on one of the only contemporary images of Scottish witches, a woodcut believed to have been produced in 1591 by Mr James Carmichael, minister of Haddington.

“The ‘witches’ in my mural are East Lothian residents. I wanted to commemorate the 219 accused by emphasising that they were ordinary people, and just like the residents of Haddington in 2021.”

The mural is the second of its kind to find a home on Hardgate.

The first mural was designed and painted by Musselburgh-based artist Laura Young and focused on John Knox.

Artist Sasha Saben Callaghan, from Edinburgh, will create a third mural in the New Year.

Charles’s mural draws attention to 219 citizens of Haddington who were accused of witchcraft in the 16th and 17th centuries.

At least 14 were found guilty and put to death.

Fiona Lambert, director of MADE, said: “Today, the town is a welcoming community and the MADE Arts Hub is a space for creative people who are mindful of each other, our neighbours, and the planet.”

For more information about the mural, go to charlesfletcher.co.uk/work/haddington

A QR code next to the mural also links to the notes.