Pendle Hill - Pendle Hill, Lancashire
The infamous Pendle Witch trials of 1612 have made Pendle Hill in Lancashire a world famous haunt
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This overnight ghost hunt at Pendle Hill includes Coach Travel from hotel to our locations, sandwich and soup supper and optional hotel stay at 700 year old Manor House (Dunkenhalgh Hotel) £30 single supplement applies.
The infamous Pendle Witch trials of 1612 have made Pendle Hill in Lancashire a world famous haunt. An overnight ghost hunt on Pendle Hill should be considered carefully, as the intense, physical activity that we have experienced here has left many guests and team shaken and frightened.
The story of the Pendle Witches is well documented and has been the subject of many films, plays and documentaries, not to mention books written about these infamous witches. The story of their demise is factually true, however, it is bigger than this in that it is thought that these witches still haunt their meeting places and work tirelessly to terrify anybody who tries to make contact with them.
Alternatively you can join us on one of our weekend Pendle Ghost Tours including 4 star accommodation click here
Ghosts of Pendle Hill
The Ghosts of Pendle Hill are nearly always connected to the Pendle Witches, however, there are occasions when we have picked up on the ghosts and spirits of others who have died on this daunting and barren hillside. These include the ghosts of children, aircraftsmen who have landed here after having their airplanes bombed in the war, along with other unfortunate souls who have died on the hill. We have also encountered those who have taken their own lives here which is particularly sad.
Some of the ghostly activity we have experienced on Pendle Hill defies any sort of logic. On one occasion whilst carrying out a Ouija Board experiment on Pendle Hill at the foundations of Malkin Tower, a tooth landed on the centre of the table. This shocked everybody concerned and after having obviously checked to ensure that nobody in the group had lost a tooth, which was definitely human, it left us in a quandry as to how it got there. The tooth was identifed as belonging to an adult of around 40 years of age and was in fact an old tooth. This has only made us more determined to find out who or what is haunting Pendle Hill and working hard towards gaining more evidence on our ghost hunts here.
History of Pendle Hill
Pendle Hill is located in the east of Lancashire, England, near the towns of Burnley, Nelson, Colne, Clitheroe and Padiham. Its summit is 557 metres above mean sea level and it gives its name to the Borough of Pendle. It is also known as Penhul, and as well as The Pendle Witches, it is known for the Quaker Movement, with the original Quaker Village still in existence today. There is also a Bronze Age Burial Site at the summit of Pendle Hill which has recently been discovered. The name Pendle is and always will be synonymous with the Pendle Witches
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.
Pendle Hill, almost a mountain, hypnotic and very atmospheric. 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.
Haunted Happenings will take you from the viewing platform of Clitheroe's Norman Castle situated at the foot of Pendle hill to various haunted and historic locations related to the Pendle Witches. It is here where you will be told the ghostly history of horror, heroes and villains.Clitheroe has an atmosphere not too dissimilar to a Transylvanian town.
We then leave the town and make our way up on to the slopes of this infamous hill to our base room. We will be keeping together as a group as the mist and darkness descend around us. You may hear the crying sound of the wind in the bracken, a fox or an owl. You may even hear the footsteps of somebody not in our party.
Additional History of Pendle Hill
Many persons over the past centuries have sadly lost their lives on the hill and many locals still steadfastly refuse to go on the hill after dark due to the sinister sightings of ghosts and spirits that have been seen, felt and heard. That is unless you join us for a terrifying walk in the footsteps of the famous Pendle witches. This will be an experience from start to finish and is definitely not for the faint hearted. We are offering you this unique opportunity to be part of this truly chilling ghost hunt.
Pendle Hill 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.
We aim to take you on a journey of facts and the related haunted activity attached to the witches of Pendle Hill following in the footsteps of 'Most Haunted'. This will be led by a Pendle Hill expert who will guide you through what is certain to be a spine chilling and extraordinary event.
Join haunted happenings for a real investigation into the hauntings of Pendle Hill and the surrounding areas.
