Pendle Witch Country

ou can imagine it now, a witches in wheelchairs to reach the top as there are Methodist Church, once preached. coven, cauldron and scatty old ladies many obstacles en-route. One site that cannot be seen is Malkin casting spells over those whom The hill also overlooks the village Tower, where a great gathering of witches Ythey had a dislike for. of Sabden and each Halloween took place on Good Friday in 1612. Blacko With pointed hats and large numbers of tourists and Tower has been mistaken for the location, broomsticks sat in the corner locals alike make their way to yet it was built in 1891 by Johnathon and a black cat to keep them the top with lanterns in hand, Stansfield, a local shopkeeper. It is often company. wearing fancy dress. referred to as Johnathon’s Folly. Yet, was it really fact or fiction? If you can’t wait for Halloween There are a number of other locations It all started with two families there are plenty of worth visiting. Clitheroe castle, an eight who lived on the slopes of opportunities to learn about hundred year old Norman keep has a Pendle, led by two women, the history of Lancashire’s most museum displaying plenty of information on Elizabeth Southerns, alias famous residents. the times of the 17th century.The 13th Demdike and Anne Whittle, alias A good starting point is Pendle century abbey at Whalley was portrayed in Chattox. Unfortunately, they had Heritage centre in the village of the 19th century novel by Harrison to be the bread winners of each Barrowford. Owned by the Ainsworth,“The Lancashire Witches”, giving family as the men of the house Heritage Trust, it is open to you a sense of the religious persecution that were long deceased.As the visitors all the year round; took place at the time.As a suspected money earners they had to beg, urch incorporating a museum, art catholic,Alice Nutter was a target for those steal or borrow in any way they Colne Parish Ch gallery, who saw Catholicism as anathema. could. gift Despite not being One day, Demdike’s grand shop, tea- open to the public, daughter,Alizon Device, cursed a peddler, room, 18th Century Read Hall, which can John Law, after he refused her some pins walled garden, cruck be seen from distance whilst she was begging in Trawden forest. barn with farmyard was the residence of Allegedly, he fell to the ground suffering a animals and Tourist Roger Nowell, who stroke. It was assumed that she had Information. Here was the local perpetrated witchcraft upon him. you can discover the magistrate, sending the This set off a chain of events which were to history of the Pendle accused for trial. have tragic consequences for both sets of witches. ‘W itches Hall’ - Ro families. In the coming months, Demdike for Following on, you ughlee Old Hall If you want to travel example had been asked to heal a sick cow can visit the parish further afield you can which then died and Chattox reputedly church at Colne, make your way to turned ale sour at an inn in Highham. built in the 10th century by Robert de Lancaster Castle where Nothing like a bad pint is Lacey, the 2nd Baron of the trials of the accused took place. there? Pontefract.There used to be Despite there being plenty of unhappiness Pendle This all culminated in ten stocks where many criminals and sadness at the fate of those tried, people being hung for the of the time faced punishment. condemned and finally executed, it hasn’t crime of witchcraft. On the The phrase “to be pilloried” stopped a thriving industry of souvenirs and way to the gallows it was comes from the time when merchandise. reported that a number this was used as a form of Moorehouses brewery, based in Burnley, has, stopped off at the Golden punishment. It allowed many like a number of local industries, embraced Lion Pub where they had undesirables to be pelted with the folklore with a number of beers that will their last drink. Even being rotten fruit and vegetables and tantalise any discerning palate.Their prize forced to pay for the ale perhaps anything else that winning ale is Pendle’s Witches Brew and for with their own money! As came to hand! special occasions they produce, among Witch the events came to pass a The parish of Goldshaw Booth, others,Witchfinder General, Broomstick noose was placed around now known as the village of Bitter and Black Cat. each and everyone of their Newchurch is worth a visit.The There have also been a number of books necks and they were left to The Nutt parish church has the Eye of about the history bestowed on the area. er family grave, hang in the wind until they Newchurch God on the bell tower. It was Harrison Ainsworth’s novel and Robert were limp and lifeless. thought by local parishioners to Neill’s book ‘Mist Over Despite the fate of those protect them Pendle’ tell the story of who were hung there is still a from evil. the trials and tribulations misconception about what they looked like. Within the graveyard is the that took place, yet the People assume they flew about on alleged grave of the Nutter only true account of the Country broomsticks, with images often depicting family, known locally as the trial was that written by them with the faithful feline familiar by their ‘Witches Grave’. Despite Thomas Potts who was side. However, the broomsticks may be plenty of weathering, it is clerk of the court at that more to do with fertility rituals of pagan possible to make out the time. women than any thing to do with magic and shape of a skull and There is even a bus By Mark Davidson mysticism.They used to jump over a plant crossbones.The name of service with a difference, whilst straddling a broomstick to try and Nutter on the gravestone the Witch Way.Travel encourage the crops to grow tall and strong. has misled many people into from Nelson to The witches hat may derive from the believing that this is where Manchester on a fleet of wearing of horns as a sign of power! Alice Nutter is buried.Within buses each named after But whatever you may think of hats, the village there is a famous one of the witches. cauldrons and broomsticks, those that met souvenir shop called Witches their death in an untimely manner, were Galore. Sat outside, keeping Blacko Tower Is it accessible? beggars at worse and were no more able to guard are three lovely ladies, The Pendle Heritage cast a spell than anyone else. who witch, I mean watch, your Centre welcomes disabled Despite what happened in the 17th century every movement! visitors, with the Parlour Shop,Tea-Room people of today talk about the local history To see where some of and Tourist Information Centre all at ground with a sense of pride. the protagonists lived floor level.The Walled Garden is easily The centrepiece of the perhaps make your way accessible and there are wheelchair- legend and stories is to Roughlee.The accessible lavatories in two buildings. Pendle Hill; rising to residence of Alice Parts of the grounds at Whalley Abbey may 1,831 feet above sea Nutter was the old Hall, be difficult to access by disabled visitors, level, and only 169 feet known locally as however the visitor centre is fully accessible. Hubble, bubble, toil and trouble, short of being classed as ‘Witches Hall’.There The Witch Way bus service is fully accessible a mountain. On a clear used to be a small for those in wheelchairs. day one of the three spinning mill in the peaks, Ingleborough can village and its attendant Those that were hung add toad and newt and let it bubble ... be seen in the distance. reservoir. It was a local , Newchurch at Lancaster Despite its height, the Witches Galore attraction for many walk is well worth it. years.After the mill Alizon Device, Elizabeth Device, James Starting at Barley you can closed, it was used as a Device, Chattox,Anne Redferne,Alice reach the summit in under boating lake and for swimming in the Nutter, Katherine Hewitt, John Bulcock, Jane an hour for those who are fit and able. summer months.There is a chapel here in Bulcock & Isobel Robey. However, it is virtually impossible for those which John Wesley, the founder of the 42 northernlife northernlife 43.

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