A murder which shook the foundations of rural Shropshire life in 1857 is at the centre of a new novel.
Ann Morgan: Hellish Beauty by Emma Woodhouse, is a historical fiction work detailing the real life story of Ann Morgan who lived near Much Wenlock. Emma draws upon her passion for Victorian history, as well as her many years teaching and living the Victorian experience whilst working at Blists Hill Victorian Town, to fuel her stringent research into the story of this alluring but feared Witch of Westwood Common.
The story starts with Lady Catherine Milnes Gaskell holding a dinner party to celebrate the release of her new book. As Thomas Hardy, Lady Stanley and others gather around her table, Lady Milnes Gaskell, a gatherer of local history and tales of the arcane, invites them to share in true story of Ann Morgan, the Witch of Westwood Common.
Hellish Beauty, Ann Morgan lies dead. The locals feared and loved her. But when she draws her last breath, a manhunt ensues, and Ann Morgan’s spirit refuses to rest until vengeance is hers.
Pieced together from historical records, this is the life story of Ann Morgan, whose murder shook the foundations of life in rural Shropshire and whose existence was so reviled by the authorities, they burned her belongings in an attempt to erase her from history.
Now she rises again.
Emma explains: “I was inspired to write it not just because of the local interest factor, but also because initially, I was fascinated by the prevailing and widespread use of witches in Victorian times by people of all statuses. The travesty of the local mayor declaring that Ann Morgan’s books and papers had to be burned as a message that her practices were not to be tolerated – destroying the evidence of course – meant that some incredible records had been destroyed. The history of this story was just too enticing.
“I will be following this book up with a non-fiction book which will be published by Pen and Sword Books in April 2027 called Witchcraft in Victorian Britain which will feature this history as well as various other histories of witches from around Britain”
Emma Woodhouse worked for the Ironbridge Gorge Museum as a Victorian demonstrator at Blists Hill Victorian Town for seven years, whilst completing her BA (Hons) in Literature with the Open University and a PGCE with the University of Worcester and becoming a teacher. She has been teaching for 15 years now, holds an MA in Education from the University of Worcester and is currently studying for her MA in Contemporary Creative Writing with North Eastern University London. She has performed her own poems at two international book launches for Candlestick Press. Emma enjoys historical realism and engages in in-depth research, to ensure that the novels she creates from the lives of real women are accurate and truthful.
