About
In the 1700s, an outbreak of smallpox occurred in the small town of Wilton by Salisbury. The locals were confused as to the origin of the outbreak until they remembered the Hansel sisters of Denmark. The four sisters were accused of witchcraft and without fair trial they were brutally murdered in the woods and buried separately so they couldn’t plot against the villagers again.
According to local lore, four beech trees miraculously appeared over their graves . Currently only three out of four still stand. Nowadays people visit the beech trees and leave trinkets as offerings to the sisters. One tree is particularly well decorated while some of the others are only surrounded by logs.
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Know Before You Go
To find the trees, enter Grovely Woods via the Hollows (cul de sac) and follow the footpath until you reach a fork consisting of two footpaths. Take the path on the right to reach the Roman road. Walk along the Roman road for about a quarter of its length at which point, to your left, you will see the witches' trees.
Published
June 24, 2024
