The Pendle Witch trials carry a dark history telling a common story of what humans are capable of doing to each other because of their differences. Today, the memory of the witches still lives on in different ways, becoming a kind of legend about witches. But does that take away from the very real tragedy?
At 6am, Simon Tattersall stood looking over the small town of Fence, covered in thick mist beneath the hill. The moody atmosphere set the tone for the day. Locals say that “when the storm is over Pendle Hill, it means the witches are out riding.” He took a moment to think about the history of the place he’d lived his whole life.
By midday the clouds had lifted and bright weather replaced the darkness of the morning. Brass bands played, artists performed, the media reported on the event, and the Lancashire hillside was filled with crowds marking the 400th anniversary of the Pendle Witch Trials.
Yet beneath the spectacle lingered the memory of what had happened four centuries earlier, when twelve people were accused of witchcraft, and ten were executed in one of the most infamous witch trials in British history.
It was in the midst of all the excitement that Tattersall realised: “In today’s world, being different is something to celebrate. These people were hanged for being different.”
The 400-year anniversary in 2012 drew visitors from across the globe to the small Lancashire village, all drawn in, not only by the beauty and charm of the landscapes, but by the contrasting dark history attached to Pendle. Over time, however, the story has evolved into something far larger than the executions themselves. Through guided tours, folklore, ghost stories and the Lancashire Witches Walk, the trials have transformed from a story about death into cultural mythology that continues to fascinate people today.
In 1612, Pendle was marked by social and religious tension, with suspicion and paranoia spreading through the local community.
Two rival families became the focus of rumours and accusations, as claims of illness and curses by witchcraft led twelve people to be arrested and taken to trial at Lancaster Castle. They made the 40-50km journey before ten of the twelve people, nine women and one man, were found guilty. They were publicly shamed and hanged. Many of the accusations were based on hearsay, along with the testimony of a young girl, Jennet Device, whose evidence contributed to the conviction of members of her own family.
“It’s a terrible injustice in English history that people were hanged all those years ago based on hearsay and the testimony of an eight-year-old.”
Simon Tattersall
Today, the story continues to draw people to the same landscape — but often in a very different way. For many visitors, Pendle is no longer just a historical site of execution, but a place shaped by folklore, imagination and tourism.
Kelly Dixon (@yorkshire.girl.solo.hiker on Instagram) visits Pendle regularly as part of her solo hiking adventures, encouraged by followers to explore new places across the north.
“I’ve visited Pendle a few times over the years, and climbed Pendle Hill three times now, and visited the sculpture trail three times, too. But on my most recent visit it was due to ‘pressure’ from followers on Instagram to head over the border from Yorkshire to Lancashire for an adventure,” she said.
She added: “Being a mainly solo hiker with quite a vivid imagination, it’s not unusual for me to stop and start imagining places and landscapes for what they were many years ago. However, it does also make me think about the treatment of women in general over the years.”
Tourism is now a huge part of Pendle Hill. Whether it be the walking trails, the statue of Alice Nutter (alleged witch), or the Witches Galore shop in Newchurch, tourism plays a major role in keeping the story alive. But it also raises questions about how the story is remembered today.
Maureen Stopforth has been running the Witches Galore shop for 45 years. For the locals, it’s not unusual to walk past the slightly scary witch statues on a regular basis. The history blends into the landscape. But for visitors, the well-known gift shop is part of the attraction of Pendle.
“I didn’t want to take over the shop at first. I thought I’d die of boredom. But I’m still here because of the range of people that I meet from all over the world,” she said.
“People say there’s an atmosphere here. They ask me if I’m one of the Pendle Witches. It just makes me laugh. And then there’s those who believe that they are witches.”
Maureen Stopforth
Simon Tattersall, who organised the event marking the 400th anniversary, explained that he encountered many visitors who practised spiritual rituals themselves, including self-proclaimed witches. Census data from 2021 showed growing numbers of people in the UK identifying with Paganism, Wicca and Witchcraft-related beliefs.
In 2012, Simon said he noticed a divide between people who cared strongly about the history and heritage of Pendle, and those who were there for more spiritual reasons. “We saw lots of spiritual healing types of people,” he explained.
Maureen Stopforth said: “A lot of what I do is putting people straight on their assumptions.” She explained that visitors sometimes come believing myths, and part of her job is helping people understand the real history. Although the award-winning gift shop sells witch-themed souvenirs and embraces the tourist appeal of Pendle, Maureen said it still takes care to respect the true story behind the trials.
On the other hand are those who have a deep respect for the people who lost their lives in such a brutal way there. Maureen explained: “People also come with a lot of respect for history. There’s a statue of Alice Nutter, one of the ten executed, turning away from Pendle. When you drive past, you can see people leaving flowers and coins at the bottom.”
Although there is sometimes tension between the mythology surrounding the Witches and the reality of how they died, it is this fascination that keeps the story alive. The landscape and the atmosphere people say they feel in Pendle, the history, the gift shops and the local knowledge all continue to draw visitors back to the story.
Simon said: “I can definitely feel the history just living here, and the more shocking things I found out about it, the more I realised what a presence it has all over the world.”
Reflecting on her own visits, Kelly Dixon said: “I think it is a very touristy place bringing people from all walks of life there. I try to visit places like this midweek to avoid crowds so I can really benefit from the quiet and get lost in my own thoughts.”
She added: “I think people should remember how far women’s rights have come, but also keep getting lost in the stories of the places they visit. I always try to learn the folklore of places and share those stories with others.”
At the end of a long day of celebrations and remembrance, Simon reflected on the fascination people still have with Pendle and its dark history.
“We can’t try and ignore history,” he said. “It shouldn’t be able to happen again.”