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•  Other Witches of the 1950s and 60s

Following the repeal of the Witchcraft Laws in the early 1950s, Gardner was not the only one involved with promoting Witchcraft. On this page you will find some more information about some other self-proclaimed Witches who attracted the attention of both the media, and people looking for a different way of expressing their spirituality.

 

 

• Charles Cardell (Rex Nemorensis/ The Fish) (1892 - 1977 )

Charles Cardell was a Major in the Indian army and later, spent time as a stage conjurer known as 'Cardi'. He then set himself up as a psychologist specialising in helping people overcome bad experiences with the Occult. Peculiarly, he also appears to have been involved with a Witchcraft tradition that was fairly different from Gardner's. His Witch activities hit the headlines in the 1960s when a reporter bore witness to 'Witchcraft in the Woods' on Cardell's estate. Cardell's Witchcraft appears to have been later enhanced and taught by Ray Howard.

 

◉ Read my article about the Cardell's, Ray Howard and the Coven of Atho here.

◉ You can find a bit more about Cardell here.

◉ Read the 1961 article that sparked the Cardell's rollercoaster ride with the Press, over allegations of Witchcraft here.

◉ Read a County Post article (March 24th 1961) which elaborates further on the 'Witchcraft in the Woods' incident here.

◉ Read a Newspaper Article from the Dorking Adventurer about some of Cardell's Craft activities here.

◉ Find out more about Dumblecott and Cardell's Moon Magick!' business in this 1962 (August 10th) article

◉ Read a Surrey Mirror and County Post article (26th October 1962) about Cardell here

◉ Read a report from the Daily Mirror  (October 11th 1967) about the mysterious ritual in the woods here.

 

 

• Mary Cardell (Beth?) (1912 - 1984)

Mary Cardell lived and worked with Charles Cardell. Whilst the shared name suggests that they were related, the reality appears to have been quite different with both of them having changing their name by deed poll, to Cardell, at the same time. In the 1960s, Mary was christened 'The Witch Maiden' by the press following allegations of Witchcraft in the woods.

 

◉ An article about Mary and her court battle from the Daily Mirror ( October 10th 1967) can be read here.

◉ Read an article about Mary losing her court battle here.

 

• Ray Howard (Ramoh)

Ray Howard was an acquaintance of the Cardell's who appears to have taken some of Cardell's Witchcraft and enhanced it with the production of a reputedly ancient, carved wooden head said to depict the God Atho. Howard claimed that the head and his magic came from a gypsy woman, Alicia Franch. This intriguing story, along with the Head of Atho have now been found to be fake.

 

 

◉ Read an article from Eastern Evening News (Norwich) November 1st 1961which features Raymond Howard here.

◉ Read an article from the Eastern Daily Press (March 6th 1967) about Howard and Atho here.

 

• Cecil Williamson (d.1996)

Cecil Williamson was the original owner of the Isle of Man Museum of Magic and Witchcraft. Gardner bought it from him, in 1954. Cecil then moved down to England and subsequently set up a new Witchcraft Musuem in Bourton-on-the-Water, in Gloucestershire. This closed down after a few years and Cecil took his museum to Boscastle in Cornwall where is still exists today, though it is now under new ownership.

◉ Read a brief history of Cecil Williamson and the history of his various Witchcraft Musuem's here

◉ In 1951 Cecil was planning a 'Witch jamboree' on the Isle Of Man, an article about this can be found here

◉ Cecil can be seen making a Witches poppet in an article in The Illustrated from 1952. Read it here

◉ Read an article from 1956 about one of several local problems he encountered with the locals in Bourton on the Water after opening his new museum, here.

◉ Watch a You-Tube online video interview with Cecil Williamson. Part 1 Part 2  (thanks to Brian Goldstar for the link!)

 

• Robert Cochrane/Roy Bowers (1931 - 1966)

Robert Cochrane claimed to be a hereditary Witch and was forming his own Coven (Clan of Tubal Cain) at around the same time as Gerald Gardner. Doreen Valiente joined Cochrane for a while, but later became disillusioned. Robert was a gifted poet and his cryptic riddles and writings display unusual depth of thinking. His Witchcraft tradition found its way to the USA via Joe Wilson, where it is usually referred to as the '1734 Tradition'.

 

◉ Books about Robert Cochrane: The Robert Cochrane Letters, The Roebuck in the Thicket Both of these books have been compiled and authored by Evan John Jones and Michael Howard as Robert Cochrane never officially published anything himself, whilst alive. There is also The Pillars of Tubal Cain by Nigel Jackson and Michael Howard and  The Book of Fallen Angels.

◉ A chapter on Cochrane can be found in the book Sacred mask, Sacred Dance by Evan John Jones with Chas. C Clifton. Read an excerpt here.

 

◉ Some of the writings of Robert Cochrane can be found here.

◉ Read an article written by George Knowles, about Robert Cochrane here.

 

• Sybil Leek (1917 - 1982)

In the early 1960s, Sybil Leek started to appear frequently in the press. This flamboyant lady attended the rituals of the 'Horsa Coven' which was based in the New Forest. Sybil, along with Doreen Valiente and others, was also involved in the creation of the 'Witchcraft Research Association'. In 1964, she moved to the USA where she spent time with Israel Regardie and together they practised Golden Dawn rituals.

 

◉ Sybil wrote over 60 books, many of which are listed here , alongside a biography.

◉ A biography  written by C. Ravin Esq can be found here.

◉ Read an article from 1963 about a Witch school that Sybil Leek wanted to establish here.

◉ Read an article about Sybil which appeared in the Daily Herald (September 16th 1963) here.

◉ Sybil attempted to start a 'Witches Union'. Read this article from the Daily Herald (19th February 1964) here.

◉ In 1964, Sybil turned up to a debate at University College, London, about Witches. Read about it here.

◉ Read a USA article from Flash News, June 1964 here.

◉ Read an article by Sybil Leek from Search (November 1969) here.

◉ Read an article about Sybil from 1969 here.

 

• Rosaleen Norton (1917 - 1979)

Rosaleen Norton was born in New Zealand in 1917 and moved to Australia at the age of 7. She was often referred to as 'The Witch of Kings Cross' because she spent many years living in that part of Sydney. The 1960s saw her courting media attention due to her occult activities but she is probably best known for her visionary art which depicts striking, haunting imagery, somewhat reminiscent of Austin Osman Spare. She passed away in 1979

◉ A book about Rosaleen was written by Neville Drury entitled Pan's Daughter: The Magical World of Rosaleen Norton.

◉ There is also a book by Inez Baranay called Pagan. This is quite rare but it's worth trying Abebook for a copy

◉ You can find an article about Rosaleen from the Australian Post, October 6th 1955 here

◉ You can find an article about Rosaleen from the Australian Post, December 20th 1956 here

◉ There was a series of articles about Rosaleen, that were ran in the Australian Post over Jan/Feb 1957. Read them here: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

◉ There is a Rosaleen Norton online art gallery here and another one here.

◉ Here is a brief biography of Rosaleen and you can find another one, here

◉ Rosaleen is also featured in this article from People (February 15th 1961)Abebook

◉ Watch a video on You-Tube from 1964, featuring Rosaleen Norton here (Thanks to Tof for the link)

 

• Anton Miles (Mahinda)

Anton Miles, originally a Buddhist Monk, was initiated into the Bricket Wood Coven in 1959. He subsequently moved to Australia and had a mail correspondence with Gardner and Charles Clark who appears to have given him some long distance training tips. Anton's Coven seemed to have more of a bias towards the male God Pan and Diana was their Goddess. Prior to meeting the Wica, it appears that he was connected with a Siam cult of Witchcraft.

 

◉ You can find a People (February 15th 1961) article featuring Anton here

 

• Charles Pace (1919 - ?)

Born in Glasgow, Charles Pace bought a darker edge to Witchcraft and often appeared in news articles which would refer to him as being not only a witch, but also a 'satanist'. He was acquainted with several other Craft figures from the time, including Eleanor Bone, Cecil Williamson, Charles Cardell and Alex Sanders. It would seem that he fancied himself as a bit of an Aleister Crowley type and amusingly would often sign off his letters using phrases like 'Yours SINcerely'.

 

◉ Read a News of The World article (March 2nd 1969) about Charles Pace here.

◉ Read a News of The World article (March 29th 1970) written by Charles Pace about Witchcraft here.

◉ Read a News of The World article (September 30th 1973) about Charles Pace here.

◉ Read a News of The World article (September 19th 1976) about Charles Pace here.

 

• Ruth Wynn Owen (1915 - ?)

An actress and occultist from Watford of Welsh descent she once acted as a drama advisor to Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard of Star Trek fame). Ruth became the head of the 'Y Plant Bran' a branch of Welsh hereditary Witchcraft and also worked with The Regency. She significantly influenced Joe Wilson who went on to form the '1734 Tradition' of Witchcraft inspired by Ruth's teachings as well as those of Robert Cochrane and others.

 

◉ Read a small biography about her on the 1734 website here.

◉ Read a small biography about her acting career at IMDB here.