Mother Shipton's statue in Knaresborough reflect mystic tales

Knaresborough’s most famous resident of all time was undoubtedly Mother Shipton, the famous ‘witch’ of Yorkshire who was born in a cave in the town in 1488 during a violent thunderstorm.

A bronze statue of the famous Tudor prophetess sits on a bench in the town's Market Square close to a statue of 18th Century road engineer John Metcalfe, known as Blind Jack.

The £43,000 work was commissioned from sculptor Chris Kelly following a fundraising campaign in the town.

Mr Kelly used historic drawings and descriptions of the witch as an elderly woman, in a sitting position, looking at a scroll featuring her prophesies - though he was more sympathetic than many of the more hideous depictions.

The statue was first proposed in 2013 and unveiled four years later.

Mother Shipton’s original name was Ursula Southeil and her mother, Agatha, died giving birth to her in the cave which now bears her daughter's name. The birth was said to be accompanied by eerie screams, though some may think that not so unusual.

Agatha raised Ursula in the cave on her own for two years before the Abbott of Beverley took pity on them and a local family took Ursula in.

Throughout her childhood Ursula was associated with mysterious events, such as furniture moving up and down stairs of its own accord.

Later she married Tony Shipton near York in 1512 and became well known as a fortune teller. Her crooked facial features frightened many – though presumably not Tony – and she was often thought to be a witch.

Old Mother Shipton in one of her many guises. The sculpture in Knaresborough market place is much more sympathetic than this depiction (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Mother Shipton is associated with many famous predictions. She is said to have foretold the Great Fire of London and the defeat of the Spanish Armada as well as the invention of telegraphs and trains - although these last two predictions are now thought to have been fabricated in the 19th century.

She is most closely associated with Mother Shipton's Cave in Knaresborough, where Ursula is said to have been born, and the petrifying well - which is said to be England's oldest tourist attraction.

Even if you don’t believe in witches or Mother Shipton’s prophecies, you cannot deny the magic power of the petrifying well near the cave which can turn things to stone.

The petrifying well at Mother Shipton's Cave is said to be England's oldest tourist attraction (Image: NEWSQUEST)

Objects, most notably teddy bears and dolls are hung up inside the cave and the limestone drenched water from the petrifying well gradually turns the objects to stone with its sediment.

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Several well-known people and celebrities have donated items to be hung at the well to be turned to stone.

One of the more recent visitors was broadcaster Jonathan Ross, who donated a pair of orange pants, which will be on display in the attraction's museum alongside other curious items including Queen Mary’s petrified shoe, John Wayne’s petrified hat and Bobby Davro’s petrified sock.

Thanks to David Simpson of the England's North East website for his help in compiling this feature. For more on the history and culture of the region, visit his website at englandsnortheast.co.uk/