One of the most famous witch trials of all time was the Pendle Witch Trials of 1612. The accused witches lived around Pendle Hill in Lancashire, UK. They were tried for killing ten people by the use of witchcraft. Pendle Hill Here

All but two of them were tried at the Lancaster Assizes between the17 -19th of August 1612. They were tried with the Salmesbury witches and others and this was called the Lancashire Witch Trials. One was tried at York assizes and the other died in prison.

Of the eleven sent for trial ten were found guilty and one not guilty. The ten were executed by hanging. Fewer than 500 witches were executed between the 15th and early 18th centuries but in this series of trials in 1612 this accounts for around 2% of the total.

The following ten witches were hanged at Lancaster Gaol - Alizon Device, Elizabeth Device, James Device, Anne Whittle, alias Chattox, Anne Redferne, Alice Nutter, Katherine Hewitt, John Bulcock, Jane Bulcock & Isobel Robey . Most of the witches belonged to two families at the time of the trials.

It is said that the outbreak of witchcraft in the area was because people could make a decent living at the time by posing as witches. As some of the allegations were from members of the two families who were accusing each other perhaps, because they were fighting to make a living from begging and healing.

If you would like to buy a 24″ x 20″ canvas print of a striking photograph of Pendle Hill to take you back to 1612 -

Pendle Hil - Witch Country

by local photographer TonyB please click on the link. Pendle Hill Here