Disease in the Drowned Lands: Health and medicine in the pre-drainage Fens

In the 1600s, the Fens had a reputation for being an unhealthy place. If you believed the pamphlets written from that time, the ‘noisome’ air could cause fevers, and all manner of demons and spirits could spread disease. How did Fenlanders stay healthy in their wetland home? This talk will explore some of the plant-knowledge, folklore, and even some spells which helped communities survive and thrive. Join us at Ely Museum, to hear this fascinating talk by Dr Tabitha Stanmore. Dr. Tabitha Stanmore is a specialist in English magic and witchcraft between the fourteenth to seventeenth centuries, and particularly interested in the role that the supernatural played in everyday life, culture and politics.