Craft History Resources

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'A generation which ignores history has no past - and no future...'  The notebook's of Lazarus Long.

 

Websites

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My Articles which deal with some aspect of Craft History, including the development of its rites and the history of the Scottish Wica.

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www.geraldgardner.com/essays.php - Links to various essays on Gardnerian Witchcraft, and it's history.

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The Boscastle Museum of Witchcraft's excellent, online research archives  - a wide range of documents amassed over many years, especially in connection with Cecil Williamson.

 

Alexandrian Witchcraft and its history -  a new website dealing with Alexandrian history

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Read all of Philip Heselton's Craft books - Philip has done many years of exhaustive research and has produced some highly informative books about Gerald Gardner. Philips passion is evident throughout and his books are an absolute must-have for anyone with an interest in this area.

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An Annotated Chronology and Bibliography of the Early Gardnerian Craft by Roger Dearnaley.  This used to be online but the website is now dead so I have uploaded it here.

 

http://www.geraldgardner.com/dearnaley.php - An essay by Roger Dearnaley that explores the influence of Aleister Crowley on Gardner and the Book of Shadows.

 

Notes on Gardnerian Witchcraft in England by Fred Lamond - Another page that's fallen foul of time so I have reproduced the archived version.

 

http://www.geraldgardner.com/History_of_Wicca_Revised.pdf - A history based on a talk given by Julia Phillips.

 

*Since some of the above articles and essays were written, new information has come to light so there are inaccuracies.*

 

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Notable Craft History Books

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• The Rebirth of Witchcraft by Doreen Valiente - This book has a couple of chapters about Doreen's experiences in the Craft's early years.

• Fifty Years of Wicca by Fred Lamond - This book has a few chapters about Fred's experiences in the Craft.

• Wiccan Roots by Philip Heselton - This book deals with Gardner's early life, the people he knew and the places he went.

• Gerald Gardner and the Cauldron of Inspiration by Philip Heselton - This is Philip's second book about Gardner and includes even more research and information on his life.

• Witchfather 1 & Witchfather 2 by Phillip Heselton - revised and updated versions of Philips earlier two book Wiccan Roots and Gerald Gardner and the Cauldron of Inspiration

• Inventing Witchcraft by Aidan Kelly -  An analysis of the 'Gardnerian' Book of Shadows as well as some insight into Craft history. This book is an updated and revised version of Crafting The Art Of Magic

• The Witches Bible by Janet and Stewart Farrar - Another classic text which also delves into modern Witchcraft's history.

• Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton - An academic investigation into the history of modern Witchcraft.

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