witch
Witch Trials Trail
Witch

Background

Click to play 'Double double toil and trouble' Whole track free in Spotify.

Remember this opening scene from Macbeth?. The play was written by Shakespeare for the new King James 1 in 1605. - just 7 years before these witch trials.

See all of Macbeth's famous paranoia in Jame's 1 view of witches and his book 'Daemonologie'.

King James' influence was crucial in these Pendle Witch trials.

Key works

Ainsworth's novel
Lancashire Witches

Potts account of the trials

Confessions during the Pendle Witch Trials

Chronology of the Trials

Pendle Wiki -Witches

Pendle Witch Trials Trail

Here the true story of the Pendle witches comes to life. See where each of the main scenes were enacted. Remember as you travel round, you will be going the long way as roads today wind round fields with dry stone walls, whereas 400 years ago people could walk straight through the forest - the Forest of Pendle.

Start Start - Map Ref A6068 X-road with B6248

Come from Manchester from M66...

Or from Preston on M65 OR

From Yorkshire on M65

Turn off the By-pass (A map reference), towards 'Fence'.

Step 1 Go up Cuckstool Lane, and at junction, see Melling studios on yr right.
Turn left along Wheatley Land Road until you find Hoarstones on rt
Stop 1

The ‘Hoarstones’is where a boy claimed he was held prisoner by witches on All Hallows Eve 1633. He named 17 of his captors who were gaoled after trials in 1634 and 4 were sent to London to be shown and ridiculed to large crowds. But it is the earlier Witches trials that are more famous.. Have yet to find the building..keep this space free
Step 2 G Go on through the village following Wheatley lane, and park up.....

Then walk past the quaint village church of St Anne’s on your left at the end of the village and behind other houses.At the end of the village, turn left at the main road (the A6068). Turn right onto the main road. As you turn right onto the main A6068 Rd look out on your left for Ashlar House..

Park in either the Fence gate OR
the Bay Horse - both renowned for excellent food and drink
Stop 2 Demdike, Chattox and Anne Redfearn were interrogated here by Roger Newell local JP (and whose home/hall we will visit)  on 2nd April 1612 and sent for trial.

Elizabeth, James and Jennet Device were also brought here on 27th April for questioning Magistrates Roger Nowell and Nicholas Bannister question them about a meeting at 'Malkin Tower' (which we will visit later)

Redfearn Chattox
Young Redfearn & Chottox

Higham is signposted to the right, take this turning past St. Johns church. It was the village of Higham which housed the “ghastly” Chattox and several of her “victims”. (any more details?) The Four Alls Inn has an interesting sign (get picture / quote) and a stone horse trough. If you pick the August Bank Holiday, you can take part in the 'Scarecrow' festival (link and need to find some of the 'houses' they lived in..)

Change this - 'Turn right just before the Four Alls Inn onto Sabden Rd' Instead 'Go on to Read Hall, where the JP resided

Turn right to Newchurch. In Newchurch the “Eye of God” is to be found on the tower of St Mary’s church to ward off evil. The church is said to house another of the Pendle Witches, the family grave of Alice Nutter. Chattox was alleged to have desecrated graves in this churchyard to collect skulls and teeth! Should you like a souvenir too please use Newchurche¹s own Witches Galore shop in the village! Link to famous witch shop
( make a logo : 'Parking is limited, so please park sensibly')

Turn left down Jinny Lane to Roughlee. (Past the last Clarion House in the country - picture /Link)

At the junction turn right then immediately left sign posted ‘Blacko and Barrowford’ (the road you want is nearly straight up and slightly to the right from the junction you are sat at). Continue along the road to the Bay Horse pub on the left, and park in the pub car park for the short walk to Roughlee Old Hall. With your back to the pub turn left, until you come to your next road on the left. Facing down this road, go down the passage which can be seen on your right, past the cottages and Roughlee Old Hall is on your left. Scenic views are spectacular and you will notice a tower in the distance - Blacko Tower - which you will visit on the final leg.

Roughlee Old Hall is often referred to as “Witches Hall” as this was said to have been the home of Alice Nutter one of the Pendle Witches who was hanged at Lancaster. (Logo: Please respect that this is a private residence.) Much more on Alice N

Carry on along Black Bar Road. Arrive at A682 (dodgy bend) and turn left. Go through Blacko and turn left on orad to Barrowford (Tom Tom localtion), along Beverley Road

Until you get to the Cross Gates public house ..where you can read a plaque saying 'free beer tomorrow. Picture/location. Turn left towards BArnoldswick for about 1/2 mile and tracjk up on left,

where the Malkin Towers Farm is and has cottages ot let.. but is private road - check out link to cottages, claims to be the place. Explain about Malkin Tower - posh sounding but means 'shit house'. Where all the shenanagons that witches suppoposed to have done, took place. Describe lead to links..

Back down through Higherford, back to Heritage Centre

Follow this trail to find out the various spots in Pendle where residues of what the witshes were accused of just 400 years ago this year..

Start at the car-park opposite the Pendle Heritage Centre in Barrowford. The Centre is easy to find – follow the signs off Junction 13 of the M65 Link for TomToms Link to PH website ( If you get a copy of the 'Pendle Way' (link) guide, you can find where The Way passes close by or crosses this scenic car trail.

Turn right from the Heritage Centre car park and over the bridge and turn left at the junction. Continue along the main road passing the impressive 17th Century inn The White Bear on the right. Take the next right turning up Church Street. On the left you will pass a wonderful 17th century building now the Lamb Working Men’s Club (link). As you rise along the road take time to take in the views of Nelson on the left hand side.

Continue along this road following signs for Wheatley Lane passing a church and a school on the right and taking no turns off this road, heading in the direction of Padiham. The Sparrow Hawk Inn (link) is on the right. Take care on this road as it approaches the village of Fence.

How about adding

Loop to Barley - for what reason, other than Tea Shop?

From Newchurch - Entering into Barley there is ample parking at Barley picnic site with toilets and an information point. Further down the road on the left is the Pendle Inn.

Further on the right is the Barley Mow restaurant where traditional food may be tasted and a little further on the Barley Tearooms for a well deserved cream tea. Passing out of

The comedian Billy Connolly used to play music at the Pendle Inn before his comic fame and loves to return here to relive those times.

For those able to climb Pendle Hill, it takes approximately one hour steady climbing but is well worth the slog for the breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside, the lake district and on a clear day the Isle of Man (access to the footpath is along Ings Farm Road with plenty of parking opportunities along the road).

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