Mother Shipton

[[File:Mother Shipton and Cardinal Wolsey.png|thumb|right|165px|An engraving depicting the imagined appearance of Mother Shipton]]
{{folklore}}
'''Mother Shipton''' was an [[English]] [[prophecy|prophetess]] reputedly active in the early 16<sup>th</sup> century, although her prophecies weren't published until 1641, with the most well-known version appearing in 1684, and later editions adding more predictions. She predicted the deaths of various people who had died before the date of publication, but there is no evidence of her predictions until after the events she predicted, and her existence is not recorded at all during her lifetime.<ref name=hoaxes/>

She was particularly popular in the Victorian period, when people added fake prophecies of the steam train and Crimean War to her works. A famous prediction of hers about the [[end of the world|world ending]] in 1881 was added by a Victorian writer in the 1860s,<ref name=wp>{{wpa|Mother Shipton}}</ref> which ended in the same abject failure as all doomsday predictions do.

The cave where she lived has reputedly been a tourist attraction since 1630, and with books of fake prophecies published from 1641 to 1862 and beyond, she must be one of the longest-lasting [[hoax]]es in English history.

==Biography==
Evidence about her life depends on the various 17<sup>th</sup> century editions of her prophecies, the first of which was published 80 years after her death. This is what they say, for what it's worth.

Her dates were c. 1488-1561. Her real name is given as Ursula Southeil with a considerable range of spellings. Born out of wedlock, she was allegedly so ugly her mother had trouble finding a nurse. She married a carpenter called Toby Shipton in 1512 and lived in Knaresborough, Yorkshire, UK, in a cave, which is now open as a tourist attraction.<ref name=wp/> She may have been a village wise-woman who offered [[magic|spells]] and [[fortune-telling]] to her fellow villagers.<ref name=mystbrit/>

There are various stories about [[supernatural]] happenings associated with her from early childhood. Objects moved mysteriously, even her crib with her inside. Imps and other supernatural beings attacked people around her.<ref name=mystbrit>[http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/occult/mother-shipton.html Mother Shipton], Mysterious Britain</ref>

==Prophecies==
:The world to an end shall come
:In eighteen hundred and eighty one.
This is her most famous prediction. It was first published in 1862, and made up by Charles Hindley, who later confessed to his deception.<ref name=wp/> Hindley also made up other predictions:
:A Carriage without a horse shall go;
:Disaster fill the world with woe…
:In water iron then shall float,
:As easy as a wooden boat.<ref name=wp/>
This is an uncannily accurate prediction of the steam train and iron ship, but less impressive if made in the 1860s than in the early 16<sup>th</sup> century. Likewise, the following couplets from 1862 which "predict" the Crystal Palace (1851) and Crimean War (1853-1856)
:A house of glass shall come to pass
:In England, but alas!
:War will follow with the work
:In the land of the [[pagan]] and the [[Turkey|Turk]].<ref name=mystbrit/>
The first edition of her prophecies was ''The Propheceyes of Mother Shipton'' (1641). This predicted the deaths of various of her contemporaries including Cardinal Wolsey (died 1530). The problem is obvious.<ref name=hoaxes>[http://hoaxes.org/archive/permalink/mother_shipton Mother Shipton], Museum of Hoaxes</ref>

==Historical site==
[[File:Mother-Shipton-02.JPG|thumb|right|The entrance to the entrance to the 
tourist trap
<ref>[https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g504004-d211955-r154229852-Mother_Shipton_s_Cave_and_The_Petrifying_Well-Knaresborough_Harrogate_North_Yorks.html Trip Advisor: A very disappointing attraction and complete tourist trap]</ref><ref>[https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g504004-d211955-r144183740-Mother_Shipton_s_Cave_and_The_Petrifying_Well-Knaresborough_Harrogate_North_Yorks.html Trip Advisor: Terrible, avoid. Tourist trap]</ref> cave]]
You can visit her cave and the petrifying well.<ref name=mscouk>[http://www.mothershipton.co.uk/ Website of Mother Shipton's Cave]</ref> Their website claims this is "England's oldest tourist attraction" on the basis that it has been open since 1630.<ref name=mscouk/> That does depend on your definition of a tourist attraction: Canterbury Cathedral and many other places of [[pilgrimage]] are older, and people probably went for a look at [[Stonehenge]] in earlier days. Perhaps it's the oldest place with a gift shop or ticket booth.

The well does petrify things: due to its high mineral content objects placed in the water will become covered in mineral deposits.<ref>[http://www.mothershipton.co.uk/the-park/petrifying-well/ Petrifying Well], Website of Mother Shipton's Cave</ref>
==External links==
*[[wikisource:en:Author:Mother Shipton|Works of Mother Shipton on Wikisource]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2|90%}}

[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:Psychics]]

Categories: British people, Psychics