Magic, Custom and Local Culture in Hertfordshire 1823– 1914 : an Exercise in Nominal Record Linkage

The exploration of popular mentalities in England beyond the early modern period is a neglected field. In particular, little extensive work has been done to examine how magical beliefs affected social relationships in local contexts, and to what extent the function and relevance of magic and witchcraft was related to community structure, local economies and cultures. Work completed to date, with rare exceptions, tends to focus very heavily upon formal religious adherence.1 Much more work is needed to further our understanding of the way people thought about the supernatural and customary rights, and how such beliefs and actions shaped their lives and their relationships. To achieve this, we must consider the extent to which different local environments and economies influenced the way such beliefs and activities manifested themselves.