AS "WITCH FEVER" swept Essex in the 16th century, more than 300 women were accused of witchcraft - and Rochford hosted its fair share of sordid sorcery.

According to legend, Canewdon village and Wallasea Island were both haunted by witches.

On Wallasea Island, there was a home known as the "Devil’s House", said to be haunted by a witch who resembled a "flying ape".

The building's proper name was Tile Barn Farm and it was said “the sound of wings” would be heard whenever the "witch" was around. The room would suddenly become intensely cold.

One story says that, during the First World War, an Army sergeant laughed off the claims about the haunting of the house and said that he would spend a night alone there. The following morning, he was found pale and shaking, and he refused to speak to anybody about what had happened.

Echo: 'Ducking stools' were sometimes used to determine if someone, typically a woman, was a witch. If they floated, they were guilty - but if they drowned, they were clear (and dead).'Ducking stools' were sometimes used to determine if someone, typically a woman, was a witch. If they floated, they were guilty - but if they drowned, they were clear (and dead). (Image: Archive)

The house was bombed during the Second World War but met its end during the 1953 flood, when it was swept out to sea.

Meanwhile, the village of Canewdon has a long history of supposed witchcraft dating back to Tudor times.

It was rumoured that if you ran around the village's 14th century church of St Nicholas anti-clockwise on Halloween, the Devil himself would appear.

In 1963, renowned investigator Eric Marple, of the Ghost Club - the world's oldest paranormal research organisation - led a ghost hunt in Canewdon.

Echo: Meet the Devil - St Nicholas Church in Canewdon.Meet the Devil - St Nicholas Church in Canewdon. (Image: Google)
The headmistress of the village school, Mrs Collins, reportedly told him that Canewdon's witches were said to be "different". Instead of using cats, their "familiars" (pets) were white mice.

It was said that no witch could die until her mouse had found itself another owner, who then inherited her powers.

Mrs Collins added villagers would "catch" witches by putting scissors or knives under their doormats. Anyone who refused to cross the threshold was said to be afraid and therefore must be a witch.

One woman was even denounced as a witch in Canewdon because she refused to sit on a cushion with a pin sticking out.

How's that for a prickly welcome?

With thanks to Emma Palmer.