Pendle Hill, Lancashire

Pendle Hill is in the east of Lancashire, England, near the towns of Burnley, Nelson, Colne, Clitheroe and Padiham. Its summit is 557 metres (1,827 ft) above mean sea level. It gives its name to the Borough of Pendle. It is an isolated hill in the Pennines, separated from the South Pennines to the east, the Bowland Fells to the northwest, and the West Pennine Moors to the south. It is included in detached part of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The tale of the Pendle witches is a great example of well-documented allegation of witchcraft. Until today, the hill continues to be associated with witchcraft. Every Halloween, a large number of visitors climb up the hill wanting to experience the supernatural.

In the year 1612, there was said to be a family of local peasants which lived in a huge limestone tower. However, the family was no ordinary family. These peasants had enormous powers and they were reported to be in league with the devil. According to reports, the family made clay effigies made of teeth and human hair. Local people died of various mysterious illnesses at that time. Others were said to have died in great pain. The milk in the area turned sour and cattle died mysteriously too. People were afraid to go up the hill. A local magistrate, Roger Norwell, had the courage to arrest two of the people living in the tower. They were brought to Lancaster for trial and two days later, the rest of the “witches” were arrested and taken to Lancaster for trial.

In the year 1612 there stood a huge limestone tower where a family of local peasants dwelt. But not just an ordinary family, these so called peasants had powers far beyond our reach. They were in league with the devil, they made clay effigies and used human hair and teeth to make these effigies.

Various local persons died of mysterious illnesses, some in great pain. Milk was turned blue, cattle died without a mark on their bodies and the locals feared venturing on to the hill. One man determined to make a name for himself was the local magistrate Roger Nowell. In great fear for his life he plucked up the courage to arrest two of the inhabitants of the stone tower known as Malkin tower. They were sent to Lancaster to be tried, two days later all the other witches met at the tower but within weeks all were taken to Lancaster for trial and certain death by hanging.

The ''Pendle Hills Witches''

Six of the Pendle Witches came from one of two families:

Elizabeth Southerns (aka demdike)

Elizabeth Device (daughter of Demdike)

James and Alizon Device (Grandchildren of Demdike)

Anne Whittle (aka Chattox)

Anne Redferne (daughter of Chattox)

The others accused were:

Jane bullock

John Bullock (Son of Jane Bullock)

Alice Nutter

Katherine Hewitt

Alice Gray

Jennet Preston 

The tale of the pendle witch trials of 1612 is real and fully documented. The twelve accused witches all lived in the surrounding Pendle Hill area and were charged with the murders of ten people using witchcraft.  Known as the Lancaster Witch Trials, eight of the witches were tried at Lancaster Castle with the Salmesbury witches and others. Another witch was tried at York and a twelvth witch died in prison prior to her trial. Fewer than 500 witches were executed in total between the early 15th and early 18th centuries. The importance of the Pendle witches is evident in that it accounts for more than 2% of that total. Of the eleven individuals that went to trial, nine women and two men, ten were found guilty and executed by hanging and one was found not guilty, obviously the twelfth witch died in prison.

Under the rule of James I the hunt for witches became almost obsessive. James was convinced that he was being plotted against by witches and insisted that his followers must denounce and prosecute any supporters or practitioners of witchcraft. In 1603 when James acceded to the English throne he imposed the death penalty on anybody who caused harm through the use of magic. Suspicions were high and it was soon realised that favour could be bought from James by those who wished to increase their standing with him. The pendle witches lived in an area which was regarded by the authorities as a lawless region and had a high incidence of violence, thieving and generally low morals. The incidents surrounding the trial and subsequent convictions of the accused pendle witches arose when members of the Demdike and Chattox families began making accusations against each other. This bad blood came from the competitiveness of trying to make a living from healing, begging and extortion.

 

If someone wants to visit Pendle Hill, the first thing to do is to contact https://www.hauntedhappenings.co.uk/ .