The Pendle Witches

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Pendle hill lies to the south-west of the Yorkshire Dales. It is a detached part of the Forest of Bowland, and an area of outstanding natural, beauty. This majestic but brooding hill offers breathtaking views and is home to the legend of the Pendle witches, and the Lancashire witch trials.

The Pendle witches were the most famous witches in English history. A story of murder witchcraft and revenge.

In the year 1612 the most famous witch trials of all time was born. Ten men and women hanged for the crime of witchcraft. The witches were believed to be responsible, for the murder by witchcraft, of seventeen people in and around the New Forest of Pendle.

On Pendle hill stood a huge limestone tower, known as Malkin tower. A family called Device, for this family Malkin tower was their home.

Elizabeth Southerns (aka Demdike.)

Elizabeth Device, daughter of Demdike, and mother of James and Alizon.

Alizon Device,

James Device.

This family was at the centre of the witchcraft allegations. The head of the family was Demdike, who was in her eighties, and feared by the local villagers, as they believed she held magic powers.

Another family was involved in the witch trials.

Anne Whittle (aka chattox)

Anne Redferne, daughter of Chattox.

There where others accused and placed on trial but because Demdike and Chattox were friends at the time they were always together, and as the rumours of murder and witchcraft began to come out they were the main focus. The others accused were,

Katherine Hewitt (aka Mouldeels)

Alice Nutter,

Margaret Pearson,

Jennet Pearson,

Isobel Rody,

Jane Bulcock,

John Bulcock.

Demdike and Chatto’s were close friends but, a feud broke out between them and they found themselves in a constant battles, with each other. It was said they were in compaction with each other, both trying to make a living with begging, and healing. The outbreaks of witchcraft in and around Pendle may have demonstrated the extent to which people could make a living by posing as healers.

The accusations came about when various local people started to die of mysterious illnesses, some people were in grate pain. The villagers found their cattle dropping down dead with no marks or reasons to why this had happened. In the village people started to home in on the witch they feared on Pendle hill, and started to think she might have something to do with what was going on. The villagers refused to go on to Pendle hill at this point, the only people seen going on to the hill was what are now called the Pendle witches, this opened the rumours, meeting were being held at Malkin Tower which was latter described a witches Sabbath. The local magistrate. In grate fear of his life had plucked up the courage to go on to Pendle hill and arrest two of the witches, of Malkin Tower. The accusations ageist the Demanding and Chatterbox family’s was made and a trail was set.

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The Pendle witches were charged with murder by witchcraft and confessions where given for the murders and witchcraft.

Demdike confessed to three murders by witchcraft and for bewitching to death the daughter of Richard Baldwin, as she was thought to make people of clay to do spells on the named clay doll, by sticking pins into it or burning over a length of time. Demdike died in Lancaster Goal awaiting trial.

Alizon Device was hanged at Lancaster Goal for witchcraft.

James Device was hanged for the murders of four people but only confessed to two of the murders.

Chatterox was hanged at Lancaster Goal for five murders by witchcraft and bewitching to death a Robert Nutter.

All others that were involved all but one was hanged, and she faced imprisonment for a year.

Because of the feud between Demdike and Chattox when the confessions came round they both implicated each other and tried to blame each other for the crimes of which they were accused of.

Pendle hill continues to be associated with witchcraft and hauntings, a large number of visitors climb it every Halloween , the visitors have included the well known TV program Most Haunted.

When they did a live investigation on Halloween in 2004. the shows presenter Yvette Fielding, said it was the most scariest episode they have ever made to date, and the episode is still widely considered as the scariest episode of the entire series.

Would you climb Pendle hill in the dark on Halloween?