Eleanor Ray Bone's Biography(Photos)

Eleanor Ray Bone (Artemis) (1910-2001) “matriarch of
British Witchcraft” was one of Gerald Gardner’s High

My coven meets in the living room. I take everything out of
the room, clear off the magic circle on the carpet, and

Priestesses, and played an important part in the revival of
contemporary Wicca/Witchcraft. She claimed to have been

setting up an altar is no easy task. I use a huge old chest
on which I lay my ritual knives. Sacrifice? Never. People

initiated into a hereditary coven in Cumbria, and later
formed her own coven in South London. During the early

confuse witches like me with Black Magic. They say the red
wine and small cakes I administer to my kneeling coven are a

1960’s and 70’s she was responsible for initiating some
of the early prominent leaders of the craft, including:

travesty of the Holy Communion. Piffle! They are symbolic
of the harvest and we are simply giving thanks to the gods

Prudence Jones, Vivianne and Chris Crowley, Madge and Arthur
Worthington and authors John and Kathy (Caitlen) Matthews.

for the grapes and the grain.

Eleanor was the daughter of a Girls School Headmistress

It is true that we are always naked at our rituals, but the
reason is our search for purity. We don’t wear clothes

(name unknown, but died in 1942), and was born in London in
1911. From her mother she naturally received a good and

because they bring foreign particles into our magic circle.
Our magic circle is purified with salt water. It is a big

varied education, but an experience in early childhood
caused her to question her faith, Eleanor explained why in a

ring drawn at the beginning of each ceremony. It is drawn
symbolically with the witches’ sword – but I’ve

later interview:

painted mine on the carpet to save time. Once the circle is
made, the High Priestess – that’s me – sprinkles salt

“I've held unorthodox views on religion since 8 when my
cat died. I was very upset and cried when I asked the Vicar

water all over it. You might call it our equivalent of Holy
Water. When the circle has been purified in this way no

whether the creature had gone to heaven; he replied that
animals did not go there. This comment did not sit well

member of the coven can enter it unless they are naked, for
a speck of dust from our everyday clothes might spoil our

with me and I began to read the Golden Bough and became
interested in folklore”.

magic.

Nothing more about her early life is known at this time,

Please don’t run away with the idea that we have a sexual
orgy. My coven is made up of middle-aged men and women –

until at the start of World War II in 1939, she went to work
in Cumbria in the North of England and came under the care

the kind of people you see in any bus queue. There is
nothing sexy about us with our clothes off. We take it all

of an elderly couple. One evening after work, conversation
fell to reincarnation and Eleanor mentioned her belief in

very seriously and a prospective member to the “craft”
is watched closely for three months before his or her

it, at which the couple revealed themselves to be hereditary
witches. Later in August 1941 the couple initiated Eleanor

nomination is put to the vote. That’s how choosy we are.

into their coven of Traditional Witchcraft. Over the next
four years Eleanor practised and learned from them before

As high-priestess of the coven I’ve had my share of crank

returning to London at the end of the war in 1945.

letters, but I’ve a stock answer for those kind of
crackpots – I write and tell them it’s a psychiatrist

After the war Eleanor married her husband Bill and settled
into a house called the Towers in Streatham, South London.

they need, not a witch”.

During the day Eleanor worked as a matron running a home for
the elderly, while at night she ran a witches coven, as she

Through the early to mid 1950’s when Gerald Gardner was
becoming prominent in the press, and Gardnerian covens began

explained in a later interview:

forming around the country, Eleanor was introduced to him
and the two became good friends. Later she was initiated

“My flat is a four-penny bus ride from the old folk’s
home in Streatham, in a house called The Towers. The

into one of his London covens, and in 1960 raised and
appointed High Priestess of her own Gardnerian coven in

cauldron inside my front door is no door-stop, it’s part
of my other life. I’m not only a witch, but one of

Tooting Bec, London. Eleanor’s craft name was Artemis,
and among her early initiates were: Vivianne and Chris

Britain’s three High Priestesses. By day I dress for my
job as matron in a tweed suit, thick lisle stockings and

Crowley, John and Kathy (Caitlen) Matthews, Prudence Jones
and Madge and Arthur Worthington. Madge and Arthur in

brogues. By night I dance naked with only a garter on my
left thigh. I’ve often wondered what my neighbours at the

decent from Eleanor founded the Whitecroft coven in south
London, which ultimately was responsible for large numbers

Towers think of the bumps in the night. I tell them it’s
me moving the furniture about.

of initiations and ensuring the survival of the Gardnerian
Tradition in the UK.