This mural tells the story of Betty Blomley, a woman from Rochdale folklore who was said to collect bent pins from the town’s wishing well at dusk. People would toss the pins in while making a wish, and Betty, living on the edge of poverty, gathered them up, straightened them out, and sold them on to feed her family.

For that, she was called a witch.

Like so many women throughout history, she was condemned for simply surviving. She was judged for her resourcefulness and her independence. This mural reclaims Betty as a symbol of resilience and quiet strength, turning an old story of suspicion into one of pride and endurance.

The red hood connects her to the Northern legend of Mother Redcap, another woman caught between myth and misunderstanding. Mother Redcap is said to be the guardian of the ale house. Its told that she stands at the threshold of old pubs granting wishes and dealing out ill fate.