NEN Gallery

The town is associated with the Witchfinder General - Matthew Hopkins who travelled over Eastern England from 1644-46, hunting out and prosecuting witches. He would subject them to a 'swimming' test. If they floated they were hanged. He eventually arrived at Mistley where legend has it that disgruntled villagers caught Hopkins and subjected him to his own "swimming" test: he floated, and therefore was hanged for witchcraft himself. Historians, however, think it more likely he died in his own home of natural causes.