At the assizes at lancaster in the autumn of 1612, twenty persons, of whom sixteen were women of various ages, were committed for trial, and most of them tried for witchcraft. I can now say i am a collector of the witches of pendle i am happy with everything, shipping, price the quality of the doll, when i opened the package i got the smell of a sweet herb and couldnt figure out what it was. Nowell interviews old demdike, chattox, and three local witnesses. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
Alizon accused chattox of murdering four men by witchcraft, and of killing her father, john device, who had died in 1601. Perhaps the most notorious witch trial of the 17th century, the legend of the pendle witches is one of the many dark tales of imprisonment and execution at lancaster castle. The trials of the pendle witches in 1612 are among the most famous witch trials in english. Although folk horror is more often associated with the cinema of the late and early in fiction it has had a much longer and broader history. The bloodcurdling real life tale that inspired new witchcraft. The pendle witches lived during the reigns of elizabeth i 1558 1603 and james 1 1603 1625. This book is the first major study of englands biggest and bestknown witch trial, which took place in 1612 when ten witches from the forest of pendle were hanged at lancaster. During the pendle witches trials, 11 witches were executed in 1612. The key witness in the case was a nine year old girl, and three of the people executed as a result of her testimony were her own mother, sister and brother. The project gutenberg ebook of discovery of witches, by. Burnleys moorhouses produces a beer called pendle witches brew, and there is a pendle witch trail running from pendle heritage centre to lancaster castle, where the accused.
He wrote his own book on the subject, daemonologie, in 1597. Pottss account of the pendle witches may have been the first book. Elizabeth southern of the demdike clan was known old demdike, and anne whittle of the chattox family was known as old chattox. In alizon devices confession of march 30th 1612 she describes how chattox once turned the ale sour at an inn in higham and bewitched the landlords son to death using a clay image. Over sixty people were rounded up across east lancashire and nineteen of these unfortunates many from the pendle forest area were tried at lancaster. The confession of chattox to witchcraft the pendle witches. In 1652 george fox climbed pendle hill and had a vision on the hill which inspired him to found the quaker movement. Anne mother chattox whittle, were part of the accused in the pendle witch trials.
Even so, if you can update or improve it, please do so. Chattox was supposedly a witch, as was her daughter, and many locals had claimed. The lancashire witches is the only one of william harrison ainsworths forty novels that has remained continuously in print since its first publication. During the pendle witches trials, 11 witches were executed in. Jennet preston was the first to be tried, at york assizes while all the others were tried at lancaster castle. When james became king of england and ireland as well as scotland, word went out from the monarch that magistrates were to round up witches. Illustration from william harrison ainsworths 1849 novel. The wonderfull discoverie of witches in the countie of lancaster. The trial itself might never have happened had it not been for king james is obsession with the occult. Mar 06, 2020 professor ronald hutton of the university of bristol says the book was a mandate for the british to fight witches. Old pendle, old pendle thou standest alone twixt burnley and clitheroe, whalley and colne where the hodder and the ribbles fair waters do meet with barley and downham content at thy feet. The pendle witches, a famous witch trial in lancashire. In modern times the witches have become the inspiration for pendles tourism and heritage industries, with local shops selling a variety of witchmotif gifts.
Demdike, chattox and anne redferne were summoned to appear before. Pendle hill this mysterious brooding landmark will forever be associated with the pendle witches, but the hill was also the subject of religious inspiration. Witches of pendle alice nutteralice nutter, a gentlewoman of roughlee, pendle, was the wealthiest of the pendle witchesshe was sent to lancaster castle with demdike, elizabeth device, alizon device, jennet device, chattox, anne refearn and others after 9 year old jennet device identified her as one of the women who took part in the good friday gathering. Anne whittle, or chattox as she was known was left a peasant when the men of her family died. Ten witches were executed at gallows hill, lancaster on 20th august, 1612 for having betwitched to death, by devilish practices and hellish means, sixteen inhabitants of the forest of pendle. She was acquitted of the two former charges, but was sentenced for the last one and made to stand upon the pillory in the markets of clitheroe, padiham, colne, and lancaster for four successive market days, with a printed paper upon her head, stating her offence. Her and her daughter alice redfearn were also witches and demdike and chattox had a rivalry. Exploring folklore, the pendle witches, the mystery of malkin. This episode looks in particular at the pendle witch trials, and asks just how reliable the. The pendle witch trials of 1612 are perhaps the most famous of all the witch trials in english history and were recorded by the clerk to the court, thomas potts, in his book.
And that brings us to the village of pendle in lancashire. Lower well head farm, pendle hill dates back to around 1600 and is famous for the witch trials that took place there in 1612. The trials of the pendle witches in 1612 are among the most famous witch trials in english history. Illustration from william harrison ainsworths 1849 novel the lancashire witches. Two families in particular, known as the demdikes and chattoxes, were prominent practitioners around pendle hillthey were also competitors.
A reproduction of thomas potts original 1612 book of the lancashire witch trials. William harrison ainsworths 1849 novel, the lancashire witches. This is the view of pendle hill taken from the back of my house, taken in may 2009. The pendle witches lancashire witch trials english witchcraft. I love spooky things too and would be interested to hear more about john dee and his local sorcery. Witches outside the witches galore shop in newchurch in pendle it is important to understand the background to the events of these trials. The twelve accused lived in the area surrounding pendle hill in lancashire, and were charged with the murders of. Oct 31, 2015 pendle witches two of the accused witches, anne whittle chattox and her daughter anne redferne.
You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at. My equine muse makes a cameo appearance in my new novel, daughters of the witching hill, as alice nutters horse. Pendle hill is a mysterious brooding landmark will forever be associated with the pendle witches, but the hill was also the subject of religious inspiration. In modern times the witches have become the inspiration for pendle s tourism and heritage industries, with local shops selling a variety of witch motif gifts. Thank you too for your help with my book on the pendle witches, the magic and the myths which is recently published and for children aged 9 to 99. When he brought anne from denmark back to scotland they were caught in a terrible storm and james took it as a sign that a witch had tried to sabotage their journey and murder the king and his new queen. I read mist over pendle so often the book fell to pieces and had to be renewed, so i bought this book the pendle witches when i saw it on amazons web site in order to seperate fact from fiction and found it very interesting. In august 1612 a nine year old girl sent the ten pendle witches to their deaths. Chattox witches of pendle pendle witches collectables. The trials of the pendle witches in 1612 are among the most famous witch trials in english history, and some of the best recorded of the 17th. The story itself is told in detail in the witches of pendle trial booklet.
Knowing mist over pendle by heart then reading this book brings the story to life. The trials of the pendle witches in 1612 are among the most famous witch trials in english history, and some of the best recorded of the 17th century. The twelve accused lived in the area around pendle hill in lancashire, and were charged with the murders of ten people by the use of. West close farm was occupied by anne redferne and her mum anne. Chattox and demdike admitted to making pacts with the devil, whilst chattoxs. The twelve accused lived in the area surrounding pendle hill in lancashire, and were charged with the murders of ten people by the use of witchcraft. The full story can be found in the witches of pendle trial chattox. T he trials of the pendle witches in 1612 are among the most famous witch trials in english history, and some of the best recorded of the 17th century. Alizon may have believed that chattox and anne were really witches, or she simply saw the chance for revenge. Englands most famous witch trial took place in lancashire in ten of the socalled pendle witches were hanged at lancaster,but werent hung at the castle englands most famous witch trial took place in lancashire in 1612. Chattox and her daughter, all of whom were witches living in pendle forest.
Jul 09, 2017 a stunning cottage once home to two of the famous pendle hill witches hanged 400 years ago has gone on the market for. The story of the pendle witches is one that has been told now for nearly 400 years. Some beautiful scenery for inspiration in this cold and dark time of year. In modern times the witches have become the inspiration for pendles tourism and heritage industries, with. At the assizes at lancaster in the autumn of 1612, twenty persons, of whom sixteen were women of various ages, were committed for. She said her mother was a witch with a dog familiar, who her spirit entered and who helped her. Professor ronald hutton of the university of bristol says the book was a mandate for the british to fight witches. Whittle chattox and her daughter, all of whom were witches living in pendle forest. One was tried and found guilty at york and the other ten were tried at. It was serialised in the sunday times newspaper in 1848. A comprehensive illustrated account of the pendle boy witchfinder who caused a massive witch scare in the year 1634.
In alizon devices confession she describes how chattox once turned the ale sour at an inn in higham the full story can be found in the witches of pendle tri. They would often meet in the forest and down by the river and upon pendle hill. Several witches were rounded up and blamed for 10 murders in the area. Four hundred years ago 10 women were hanged in lancashire for witchcraft. Since then, numerous books have been written about the witches including pendle witches by r.
Aug 22, 2018 alizon may have believed that chattox and anne were really witches, or she simply saw the chance for revenge. Margaret pearson was tried for murder by witchcraft, bewitching a neighbour and bewitching a horse. Resulting in a hole remaining on the castle boundaries. Lancashire witches at pendle hill haunted america tours. Pendle witches the trials of the pendle witches in 1612 are among the most famous witch trials in english history, and some of the best recorded of the 17th century. On the first day, the pendle witches were tried, except for old demdike who died in custody. Decades before the salem witch trials, lancashire, england had a similar trial where twelve innocent people near pendle hill were accused of murdering other citizens with their witchcraft. In this volume, eleven experts from a variety of fields offer new surveys of these events, and of their meaning for contemporaries, for later generations, and for the. Denmark has a long history of witch hunts and witch trials, and when james visited the country he became obsessed with rooting out witches. From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia two of the accused witches, anne whittle chattox and her daughter anne redferne. The witches of pendle forest, as they have come to be called, were ten. The pendle witches in august 1612 ten people were charged with witchcraft and sentenced to death. Witch trials regardless of where they took place were horrif history in 1612 a nine year old girl got up in a court room and gave evidence against her mother and sister.
Illustration from william harrison ainsworths 1849 novel, the lancashire witches. According to the historian richard catlow, the case of the pendle witches. This article appeared on wikipedia s main page as todays featured article on september 3, 2008. Folksong by miltonallan downham village and pendle hill the year 1612 the pendle witches lived at a turbulent time in englands history. The only true account of what really occurred is a book titled the wonderful discoverie of witches in the countie of lancaster written by thomas potts who was clerk to the judges of lancaster assize of 1612. From it he seems to have taken inspiration for the rituals and. The novel is a fictional account of the pendle witch trials. Well done mike on your work in pendle and on anglesey. In 1652 george fox climbed pendle hill and had a vision on the hill which inspired him to. The bloodcurdling real life tale of a witch hunt that inspired new. Many of the allegations resulted from accusations that members of the demdike and chattox families made against each other, perhaps because they were in competition, both trying to make a living from healing, begging, and extortion. Demdike had a rival witch up against her old chattox an old hag of a witch with little sight. Six of the eleven witches on trial came from two rival families, the demdike family and the chattox family, both headed by old, poverty stricken widows, elizabeth southerns aka old demdike and anne whittle mother chattox. May 21, 2017 the trials of the pendle witches in 1612 are among the most famous witch trials in english history, and some of the best recorded of the 17th century.
An illustration of ann redferne and chattox, two of the pendle witches, from ainsworths novel the lancashire witches, published in 1849. The witches of pendle it was an era of religious persecution and superstition. His book daemonologierequired reading for local magistrateswarned of a vast conspiracy of satanic witches threatening to undermine the nation. Detail inspired by a contemporary broadside the hanging of the. Dec 07, 2016 jennet preston was the first to be tried, at york assizes while all the others were tried at lancaster castle. Pendle witch photo album mary sharratt official author. The true story of the witches of pendle forest, the witch s meeting at malkin tower and the witchcraft of demdike and chattox. The project gutenberg ebook, discovery of witches, by thomas potts, edited by james crossley this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Pendle witches two of the accused witches, anne whittle chattox and her daughter anne redferne.
Two of the accused witches, anne whittle chattox and her daughter anne redferne. Its summit, known as the big end, is the site of a bronze age burial. The pendle witches the pendle witches the white goddess. Pottss account of the pendle witches may have been the first book on.