The BEWITCHED swamp of England

Listen, lords, both great and small,
And take good heed of what I say:
I shall you tell as true a tale,
As ever was heard by night or day.

Introduction

Swamp atmosphere, being dark and humid, indicates that it was once and for all left by the good spirits. Now, it is a place where demons, witches and the Devil himself reside – an environment that leaves no person indifferent.

The phrase which was used to describe the Magic in Anglo-Saxon England, was “nameless art”, and the person considered the artist fell among the witches, quaker doctors, astrologists, those who claimed to be possessed by the Devil, women who produced beer, herbal remedy gatherers, etc. The thing they had in common was the practice of healing, exorcism and communicating with the spirits, efforts to identify thieves and those who committed crimes, to predict the weather, divination and fortune telling, hypnosis, etc. 

Witchcraft is deeply rooted in the medieval beliefs of the English people. It gave reasoning behind human accidents, thereby providing a sense of relief as the causes were always known. 

Lead by fear, and the desperate need to run away from misfortune, people accused innocent women of witchcraft, only to later execute them with no mercy by hangings, burning at the stake or stoning. Children and men were also victims of accusations of witchcraft, although not nearly as much as women.

Program

The project is built upon the idea of a memorial park that includes a visitor center. It takes its visitors on a journey, not only to the world of magic, but also redemption, punishment and judgement. The park consists of several small houses, built right beside the existing embankment. The houses, each with its individual story, provide answers to the following:

• Where did witches come from?
• How to recognize a witch?
• How to protect thyself from the evil forces?
• How to conduct a witch trial?
• How did the church approach witchcraft?

Besides the exhibition area, within the complex there is an information desk, room for administration and a restaurant. The restaurant particularly highlights specialty courses seasoned with remedy herbs from the wetland, as well as various teas. 

Passage

One approaches the houses through the tight gaps made within the embankment. The idea is to make the area create a subtle sense of discomfort once a person enters that space. Greater height and dimmed light would contribute to the formerly mentioned sensation, as well as messages written on the walls. On the entrance door, are the following lyrics of a poem:

One shaft of light that shows the way
No mortal man can win this day
It's a kind of magic

Queen

Written on the exit gap is the following quote:

Now my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own,
Which is most faint.

W. Shakespeare, The Tempest, epilogue

Urban Solutions

The gaps are just a small part of the walkway that is shaped like an infinite loop. The walking area is thought of as a simulation of the “vrzino kolo” which is often present in different cultures all over the world. It’s used to describe a ceremony or a ritual that has no beginning or end. Witch’s circuit and vicious circle are among the most used synonyms. Two parts of the infinite loop meet in the middle of a lake and that area is characterized as “gumno”. “Gumno” in the tradition of the Serbian people is a place in a village where villagers gather to socialize and talk, but solely during the daylight. At night, this spot is reserved for witches and evil spirits, which is why children were prohibited from going outside at that hour. A similar phenomenon occurs in other cultures too. At the crossing of the two walking paths lays a monument for all victims executed for witchcraft due to fear and ignorance. The following verses are written on the stone:

Another victim’s bones decay
And cry of breach of trust
How many stood in judgement here
Accepting what was done?

The twisted walking path further leads to a meadow that is in particular seasons during the year, reserved for rituals, and uniquely mowed in others – there are different symbols used for protection against witchcraft visible in the grass. The symbols are mostly symmetrical, such that they resemble a maze as the people used to believe that evil will lose its way within it. The letter “W” was a mark for the Very Virgin Merry (looking at the symbol from the top-down and bottom-up) used as a defense mechanism as well. Arrangement of this part of the project is flexible to changes.

Arrangement

Design of the facility is created in a way that resembles medieval English houses from different parts of the country. All houses are connected with a porch, which one can access using either the ramp or steps. Between these vertical structures, rose bushes are planted. Interior itself speaks of the times which have passed long ago, old inns, residences of the rich and the poor, village chapels, etc. Besides the former, the main goal was to create a space which depicts elements of magic and witchcraft. The houses are built from three parts – basement, ground floor and gallery using local wood as the main material. With further development of the project over time, it’s possible to include accommodation units for visitors to improve the existing structure. 

Conclusion

The aim of the project is to connect people with the swamp and former beliefs in an intriguing manner. 

Wetlands, as areas which are disappearing at a high rate, should be nurtured and so, building a visitor center at this location would contribute to raising awareness on the importance of preservation of these ecosystems. In order to reduce the detrimental effects on wildlife of the area, the construction is dislocated, and it implies only the walking area that connects the two different nature phenomena – wetland and meadow. Additionally, this could be seen as a metaphor for joining two worlds – the world of magic and that of the “regular people”, the sky and the earth, the Heaven and Hell. Walkways in sceneries of this sort and with such a strong atmosphere, are rarely found, therefore this visitor center stands out prominently. 

The overall aura of the swamp emphasizes the importance of witchcraft in history, both as a silent reminder of the innocent lives that were lost but also as to insure that they may never be forgotten. Assuring that the souls of the lost don’t get angered and seek revenge for the wrong doings from the past.

Research on wetlands, witchcraft, beliefs and architecture of the medieval England made this assignment amusing and difficult at the same time. However, it’s entertaining to create one’s own tales.