Josh

Was this small, old jail simply a place with a dark history, or did the pain, fear, and injustice of the witch trials leave something chilling behind?

To understand the cage, we need to understand St.

Oseth.

The small village is located in the county of Essex and has an estimated permanent population of 4,600 people.

Though it's a small place, St.

Osseth is steeped in history and legend.

For instance, the town's name comes from Osketh, a 7th century noblewoman and nun.

And legend has it that in 700 AD, Osketh was confronted by a Viking pirate off the coast of Essex.

The pirate demanded that she denounce her faith in God, but when she refused, he beheaded her.

It's said that she was guided by angels to pick up her own head and walk back to her nunnery.

Once she entered, Osguth collapsed to the ground and died.

Her courage and faith earned her canonization from the Catholic Church and her story was passed down through the centuries and left a chilling mark on the village that bears her name.

And this story is just one of many in St.

Ossith's sordid past.

The most infamous historical event in the village occurred in 1582 when St.

Ossith became the center of a deadly witch hunt.

The story of St.

Ossith witch trial centers on one woman, Ursula Kemp.

Ursula, also known as Ursli, was well respected in the village as a healer using holistic and spiritual practices to treat the sick.

However, historians have noted she was also a poor single mother who earned some money as a nursemaid and midwife.