Ingredients, Gifts, Tools, and Supplies

Treadwell’s sell more than books. The history of magic, the practice of herbalism, the rites of Santeria, the ceremonies of modern Wicca: all have their accoutrements. We like to buy from small cottage-industry craftspeople whose works are made with care and excellence. Our items are of the very highest quality and are made of whole, natural materials.

Candles. The Treadwell’s candle range is supplied by Surrey hedgewitch who makes them all in her kitchen, and whose beeswax is virgin, being gathered directly from a local bee-keeper’s hives. Importantly, these candles are handled by no more than two people before sale: the maker and the packager at Treadwell’s. Coloured candles: these are for planetary or deity-based workings in Wicca, paganism and hoodoo. They are intensely coloured all the way through, not just colour-coated – an important factor for many practices. The standard size burns for three hours and costs £1.00. Larger sizes are used for longer workings or can serve as altar candles. £2.00, £3.50. Colours: red, blue, yellow, black, white, purple, green, orange. Virgin Beeswax Candles. Undyed beeswax-heavy candles are used for workings where the substance itself if of central importance, rather than the colour. Virgin beeswax is so defined as never having been used before – coming straight from the hive, not melted down from previously formed candles. Like all our candles these are handled only by the maker and the packager, meaning a minimum of handling and interference. These have the largest workable amount of beeswax for a candle: approximately 30 percent: if the candle has more than this it does not burn well. Standard size burns for approximately three hours and costs £2.00 Larger sizes also available. Bespoke Candles. Our candle-maker will make bespoke candles for specific purposes, or in specific sizes. Please ask a member of Treadwell’s staff for contact details.


Antique Brass Candlesticks. A solid brass or silver candle stick set is a complement to decorative or purposive candle-burning. We keep in stock a variety of singles and pairs picked up on our travels around the British countryside’s antiques fairs. Prices range from £3-£40.

Ritual Soaps and Bath Salts. Made by two London hedgewitches in their own kitchens, these are made for specific purposes. The ingredients are listed: pure, organic, extraordinarily high quality. For baths where the purpose is purification or ritual preparation or magic, as well as for good old relaxation, invigoration and soaking. If you ask, our staff are happy to explain the correspondences and meanings of each one’s contents.

Athames and black-handled religious daggers. Practitioners of initiatory Wicca count amongst their regalia an athame (correct pronunciation ‘uh-thay-mee’), namely a black-handled ‘knife that does not cut’, to cite the tradition’s lore. Ours are individually hand-cast and hand-crafted by an East Anglian solitary craftsman, to very high specifications. The black handles are from native British ancient bog oak, and the double-edged blades are of steel (or alternatively bronze and copper). Damascus steel blades upon request. Prices £90-200.

White-handled knives and bolines. All variety of modern pagans use these for their practical work: inscribing symbols, cutting herbs, whittling wood. The white handles on our range (hand-made in East Anglia) are holly and rowan. The styles are traditional British Wiccan (straight-bladed) or folk American (curved blade). Prices £60-90. Blades are steel or bronze.

Staffs, Rods, Wands. For dowsing, ceremonial magic, Wicca, druidry and hedgecraft. Hand-collected from trees in greater London, Surrey and Oxfordshire. With bark on, or peeled and sanded. Woods: apple, rowan, yew, hawthorn, holly, hazel, willow, silver birgh. Prices: £8.00- 20.00. Also hand-carved druid wands, made by a local druid on the Treadwell’s staff. Beeswax and linseed oil, to care for the wood, also on sale.

Cloaks and Robes. Our cloak maker is a regular costumer for theatre, television and opera. His cloaks are beautifully designed and cut to show each wearer to the best advantage. He is also a practising witch, who knows well the needs of those working out of doors as well as those who perform rites indoors. Treadwell’s has several cloaks in stock, and bespoke is also available upon request. Robes are always made bespoke. For a referral, please see Treadwell’s staff.

Shangri-La Shawls and Wraps. Treadwell’s is the exclusive London outlet of Shangri-La Designs. This small exclusive designer creates velvet devoré drapes. The art is conceived at their rural studio in Pennsylvania, then realised at a Manchurian cottage factory. Shangri-la wraps are versatile – they instantly transform any outfit. They are ideal as improvisational ceremonial garb, draped over ordinary clothes; pagan customers take note. These shawls are equally at home at the opera or an ambassadorial dinner party. Prices £40.00- !50.00. For the website of their US boutique and design studio, see http://www.shangrilagifts.com/

Runic pendants. From originals jewellery and amulets found from the Viking era, now in the Danish national museum, our award-winning jeweller makes reproduction pendants. Designs include images of Thor’s hammers, Odin riding astride Sleipnir, and abstract curvilinear designs.

Virgin beeswax. From a nearby Thames-side bee-keeper. Suitable for making home-made furniture polish (heat with linseed oil). May also be melted into wax talismans as traditional in the angelic and goetic traditions. Collected, strained and prepared for your use by a local hedge-witch. £3.00 per block.

Essential Oils. Highest grade, certified pure. Used in anointing talismans, blending incenses, mixing hoodoo treatment oils. Ambergris, bergamot citronella, lemon, lemon grass, lemon verbena, tangerine, grapefruit, peppermint, tea tree, spearmint, rosewood, vetivert, patchouli, geranium, ylang ylang, vanilla, lavender, rosemary, bay, basil and others. We use a specialist supplier to aromatherapists and medical herbalists. These oils are simply the best. All bottles 15 ml, prices £2.75- £7.00. Rarer essential oils available upon request, as special orders.

Incenses – Gum Resins. Desiccated tree sap from rare shrubs and trees form the granules of true incense resins. We supply in small ‘sampler’ bags as well as jam-jar size containers. Ingredients those who blend their own mixes. Frankincense, myrrh, aloe ferox, benzoin, gum arabic (acacia), pine resin (colophony), dragon’s blood. We stock special mixtures hand-prepared by Allison Brice, when she makes one of her legendary unique blends; these are available on an ad hoc basis. Prices: 30p-£9.00.

Stones, Rocks, Crystals. Used in preparations, healings, mojo bags and designs. Carnelian, tiger’s eye, lapis lazuli, turquoise, jade, chalcedony, fool’s gold, obsidian, jet, amber. Also rose quartz, jasper, ulexite, moonstone, aventurine, blue lace agate, sodalite, clear quartz.

Beaded ‘luck’ Jewellery. Hand-strung by Elizabeth Maddison. Each item comes with details on its corresponding lore, so you know which one is for traditional to bring: luck, love and prosperity, legal success, fertility or wealth. Elizabeth’s pieces are strung amethyst, rose quartz, tiger’s eye, carnelian, and other stones. Earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Prices £4.00-12.00.

Greetings Cards. We stock tasteful artistic cards that are hand made. These are based on themes of Nature, folklore, ancient cultures, and seasonal customs. Prices £1.00-£2.00

Green Men Plaques. The lord of the forest, guardian of wilderness, the Green Man brings blessing to a home. Our plaques are made at a home workshop and come in several styles. Prices £15.00--£25.00. We also have green-man pendants and belt buckles.

Masks. Advanced-formula papier maché masks, hand-made by Hertfordshire craftsman. Each individually made in layers of material and resin in a week-long process. His creations sold at Treadwell’s have included nymphs, Pan faces, Herne the Hunter, stag gods. Each is unique. Call in at the shop to see what current creations John has given us to stock.