The Chilling True Story of the Pendle Witch Trials

Join host, Alice Loxton, as she delves deep into the mysterious and haunting story of the Pendle Witch Trials that took place in 17th-century England. Alice speaks to local historian Simon Entwistle and Lancaster Castle's Museum Manager, Dr. Colin Penny to shed light on the secrets and significance of this chilling trial.
Alice steps back in time to explore the landscapes of Pendle Hill, the ordinary town which became the heart of witchcraft allegations in Lancashire. She finds out how fear, superstition, and religious tensions conspired to ignite one of the most infamous witch trials in English history.
She spends time learning the real stories of Alice Nutter, Elizabeth Device, and other women who were entangled in the web of accusations and examines the evidence against the accused, exploring potential motivations behind their persecution.
Film directed by Mark Bowsher.
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[@ursulaclark287]

We live in the house of an alleged 19th century Yorkshire witch. Investigating her history uncovered a very curious story and previously unknown family connections to the Pendle Witches. For over 150 years nothing much was known about her life other than the enduring accusations of witchcraft based on the flimsiest of anecdotal stories. Eventually I was able to establish her maiden name, the key to many a genealogical impasse. I discovered she was born Margaret Clark, sharing our family name and, astonishingly, more besides. The stories turned out to be malicious gossip, seemingly related to money and inheritance, but they clearly hit home. After her death, Margaret (or her surviving family) went so far as to have the accusations alluded to on her gravestone in the village churchyard. In 2016, whilst I was researching her life I also discovered that, far from being the ‘incomers’ we believed ourselves to be when we relocated here in the 1990s, our family has historic connections to the village dating back to the early 1700s. We now know that one of my husband’s direct ancestors was the corn miller here in Margaret’s lifetime. Not only that, but Margaret was related to that ancestor, albeit distantly through marriage, which of course means that Margaret turns out to be part of our wider family tree too. Following the revelations of my husband’s ancestry in the village I began to investigate more deeply my own ancestry which hails from the cotton-spinning towns of south Lancashire. In early 2017 I discovered that before the Industrial Revolution drew them into the mill towns in search of work, my ancestors had lived for at least ten generations in the villages and hamlets around Pendle Hill. Further research revealed that three members of my family had been named by Potts as being amongst the accused: one, the older sister of my ten times great grandmother, ‘fled to save herself’; the other two, a mother and son, were not so fortunate. It is not known what became of the ancestor who fled but it is not difficult to imagine what the legacy must have been for the families caught up in such accusations of witchcraft. How very curious that my own family’s history and experience should have turned out to have connected so intimately, and resonated so closely, with those of the woman whose house we now occupy and whose story I had been compelled to investigate. What do they say about truth being stranger than fiction?!

[@ivana547]

Wow!!!

[@wesleyashworth5061]

Blimey

[@HipnoDark]

Me pointing to you guys: "A witch!"

[@ikarus_incarnate]

Worthy of a book even or tv rights or something... maybe BBC who do you think you are? 😮😮😮

[@brucejackson4219]

Unheimlich

[@emom358]

Alice Loxton is a wonderful host for programs such as this. Thank you for a warm, sympathic summary of this horrible history.

[@notpublic7149]

Alice rules! Loxton or Roberts! 🎉

[@will5989]

Agreed, love her.

[@susanmccormick6022]

I wish I knew why humans are the cruellest species on earth,yet consider themselves top species.

[@eloquentsarcasm]

Not sure exactly what it is about Alice, but she has a wonderful enthusiasm for history, and a goofy, relatable manner that just makes watching her presentations a joy. She reminds me quite a bit of the Time Team members, folk that you could imagine sitting around a table with a generous supply of ale/whisky and talking for hours. Another great History Hit video!

[@ismarwinkelman5648]

Yes! She can be very knowledgeable and incredibly bubbly at the same time, it’s awesome 😊👌🏾🔥❤️

[@dionnegonsalves8188]

...I could watch world 🌎 wide History & Nature Docs all day! Listening on my daily walks 🎧 is enjoyable too. 😊

[@TheTristanmarcus]

There was an unforgettable documentary about this with Simon Armitage presenting it, in his elegiac and poetic way 🙏🏽 Worth looking out for ❤

[@xx_blasphemer_xx8148]

Past and present always reminds us of how awful we can be to each other :( I never used to get bothered by history but as I grow older the stories weigh heavy on me.

[@EMNstar]

I feel the same. As I grow older, the knowledge weighs heavier on my soul.

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

I am 73. Since age 14, I’ve spent my life studying the darker side of human history. it’s always bothered me but as I’ve aged it’s become downright painful. It doesn’t help that I carry images in my head I would sometimes gladly remove if I could do so.

[@user-wr2cd1wy3b]

I find them so magical, I would rather have lived in these more mysterious times. I almost feel those times in me as I look back, maybe it's from reading the writings from the black death or the witch trials but they way they're written from the primary account is so much more fascinating than the modern look back, because to these people, truly magic was in the air, there was no difference to believing and the truth in those days, and life is magical enough as it is, even in our time, the basis of theirs that was unexplained, (even if we feel they are because we can describe greater swaths of time, and larger things and very small things) it is, on the face of it, still here.

[@Madmerlined]

Live relatively local to the Pendle area, very happy to see this. I did my dissertation on these ladies

[@williamrobinson7435]

Beautifully compiled and presented. I have been to the pub on Pendle Hill.. To our surprise, when we arrived there was a Roundhead, complete with horse and tankard, drinking his beer outside. These poor people's loss has been feeding the tourist industry up there ever since this shameful series of trials.. Nice one Alice. 🌟👍

[@anthonystevens8683]

This is such a tragic tale, many of the very vulnerable would have tried and believed in almost anything just to survive, these victims probably had no idea what they were confessing to. A well made and educational video of these dark times. Humbly narrated and well presented Alice. Thanks for sharing.

[@chizwiffle]

Alice is an incredible presenter! There are a few Pendle Witch Trial documentaries out there but for someone who watches pretty much every documentary, I couldn’t get myself to watch those. Finally we have one that is brilliant! Thank you, Alice! Please keep presenting history for us!

[@mrparkuksmith1311]

I live in Clitheroe! I know Simon Entwistle well. A great guy. Hope you liked the surroundings Alice!

[@Bobbythebuilder789]

I'd love to see Alice have her own history documentary on the bbc

[@gjclark2478]

Yeah, where the BBC would : say the witches were bame, need a month dedicated to them as a "minority", or history changed as one of their ancestors were black. Give me a break. Alice is in her element away from msm with their agendas..........ffs. BBC of all media ?! Liars and thieves all speed by the government........get a fkn grip 🙄🙄

[@gjclark2478]

Paid (not speed).

[@martinhew981]

I love the Alice's style. Love her videos and loved her book. Another very interesting documentary.

[@normasouthwood3182]

I went on a coach trip around the Ribble Valley. There was a speaker on board, the wonderful Simon Entwhistle. Mesmerising. A born storyteller.

[@tonycowin]

This is the most sympathetic and respectful documentary on the subject I've seen. Thank you.

[@TJS3]

I just love way Alice talks about history, enthusiasm and knowledge unmatched.

[@Sanniz]

I was in some of the places around Pendle Hill and Lancaster 2015. My Trevor (from UK and Lancashire area) took me there, cause he knew my intrest in Witches and those tragic witch trials. In the museum for Pendle Hills Witches I was talking with an older man about all and compared with same tragic story from my country Sweden. And he also gave me more printed facts about Pendle Hills Witch Trials. I still got them today and they are in the shelf with the books I bought there. Also recogniced Witches Galore, cause we stopped there too. Plus I have been in Williams Park in Lancaster too. Thanks for the history and I love how it was presented. But I don't like that so many died cause of this type of trials.

[@32446]

I'm from Pendle. It's a gorgeous place and i grew up listening to stories of the witches.

[@WeArePermaculture]

Beautiful part of the world, I'm forever in awe of the natural beauty and interesting history of our bonny Pendle. Great documentary, good work!

[@beagleissleeping5359]

Janette herself was accused of being a witch as an adult. She was found innocent, but died in prison after they wouldn't release her because she couldn't afford to pay the costs keeping her in prison.

[@andrejz8954]

:O

[@nickjung7394]

Wasn't her name "Jennet"? An old English name.

[@bunny_smith]

@@nickjung7394 Her name was Jennet. She got her just deserts.

[@tick999]

Originally called Pen. Pen = hill in celtic The Saxons then called it Pen Hill Pen Hill became Pendle Pendle became Pendle Hill. Meaning hill hill hill

[@mystrength5640]

Thank you🎉🌸🐑🦁

[@pcmark711]

Alice is a natural presenter, you can tell she has enormous passion for the subject. Also telling a tragic story of these women with dignity. Well done History Hit another great video, more please!

[@nickjung7394]

Passion for the subject, an excellent speaking voice and good research. A pleasure to watch and listen to. I knew someone years ago who was a Lancashire Redfern from this area; she was very knowledgeable about this subject!

[@heversham1]

I have to say History Hit have really hit the nail on the head ,I have been involved in a few documentaries on the 1612 story .For me this is the best

[@TheBerendir]

Cannot believe I have not seen this channel on my feed? Instant Sub, plenty of videos to catch up on 👍

[@edwilson5727]

lovely to see Colin and the Castle doing well, we did some living history events at Lancaster Castle some years ago, may have to see about doing so again!

[@susanmccormick6022]

Ed Wilson:Miss doing Living History,but without transport u r doomed.Doomed!

[@kendallpeters6451]

Dang…the old gal made it to her 80s. Back then that might be considered a bit of sorcery. 🤷🙀

[@kariannecrysler640]

Excellent video. I wouldn’t mind more about the greater world around the witch hunts. There was no shortage of blaming women going on then sadly.

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

So many reasons get cited too, including the transfer of some medical practices/responsibilities away from midwives towards a new professional class of educated men. I'd love a series on the times + context bc there's so much fiction that's crept into factual accounts & I appreciate that Loxton & History Hit in general will appreciate well-done fictional touches in other works, but they point them out & in their own work leave out the gloss + floss that muddles some other accounts of the past. & the HH crew are all wonderfully empathetic to the trials + joys experienced by real people --- whoever, whenever, + wherever they happen to find themselves in history.

[@jimmycburfield5997]

Really interesting and really well presented.

[@Chaka2nd1]

Excellent! So well told and reported. I'm a fan.

[@nickharmer3049]

Great stuff. Thank you for sharing. Bless 👍

[@gavhenrad]

Very well presented. Great video

[@Waynejack2373]

Thank you for highlighting this blight on the purge of innocent ordinary folk in Lancashire , Ps You picked a good day to film :D .. great upload :)

[@markcolyer1989]

Fantastic video thanks for your time on This matter

[@LanceHarding]

My neighbour was a family relative of Alice Nutter, his name was Robert Nutter who was born in Colne but his family moved down to Whitstable in Kent. He was a Great friend who will always be remembered by the happy memories we shared riding roller coasters.

[@deedeedodo8092]

Wow I knew the family, they played in the Whitstable cricket team. How interesting 😊

[@cindchan]

I can't get over the little girl who accused her mother of being a witch. I wonder what became of her and if she ever regretted what she did?

[@SatinWorshipp]

Jennet Device was accused of murder by witchcraft as an adult but was acquitted. There is some dispute about whether that Jennet Device was the same person who testified against her family in 1612, however.

[@klarissemonje4734]

Love Alice so much and the HistoryHit channel for another interesting video. Btw, what brands are your dresses' Alice? Much love

[@nickthomas181]

Im from Burnley and Colne this was a superb interpretation of The Pendle Witches.

[@rodeastell3615]

Excellent video ... thank you.

[@fabshop6359]

Excellent! Have subscribed.

[@suecrowhurst4393]

Very interesting video, just found this, great stories about the witches, love the history

[@nickbannister775]

Just a little bit of trivia. Recently on TV there was a comedy called Witch Finder where the Witch Finder himself was a Bannister ( a very common surname in that part of Lancashire). One of the prosecutors at the trial was a Nicholas Bannister (yes we share the same name) so obviously someone on that comedy had done their homework.

[@trapdriver7006]

Excellent informative video which I enjoyed watching 👍😃😃😃

[@sethlogee]

Love the class and material analysis at the end. No war but Class war ❤ 🔥

[@pendragon2012]

Great video! I really hate how these sites then try to capitalize on injustice by commercializing it with these dumb kitschy souvenirs and stuff. Salem is even worse. Well done, Alice!

[@Ionabrodie69]

Its also called giving locals a living… I suggest you mind your own countries business.🙄🇬🇧

[@sleepingpenguin2882]

⁠​⁠@@Ionabrodie69 no one needs to make a living capitalising on such a tragic story. It is really quite distasteful, but each to their own. 🇬🇧

[@tinyangel9409]

@@Ionabrodie69 👍

[@tonygallagher6989]

One of them was an ancestor, according to my grandmother. I've tried researching her side of the family, but it's impossible to go back further than the 20th century.

[@mohmudmiah4468]

Damn 😯😯😯😯

[@moirataylor6417]

An informative and interesting video. As usual Alice is wonderful. The curator though makes a tiny error when saying prisoners in Lancaster gaol at the time of Pendle witches could die of cholera (or typhoid or typhus). The first recorded case of cholera was not until 1831 in Sunderland

[@thenoworriesnomad]

Excellent video..👍👍

[@MrMmnngghh]

Alice AND Simon in the same excellent documentary, win-win-win

[@54mgtf22]

Alice rocks! Love your work 👍

[@davidchambers7114]

thank you Alice

[@purplebutterfly7257]

Alice and Dan are the best presenters.

[@stuartsimister5042]

I live in Clitheroe and often walk pendle hill.Its very beautiful in the ribble valley.

[@Azphreal]

Really think Time Team should get Alice involved as she is a great presenter. Think i am a bit in love with her lol.

[@paulmisseghers9398]

I really enjoy Alice as a presenter!

[@JulianaBlewett]

Fear and ignorance. And these are still alive and monstrous in the US.

[@ThisWontEndWell]

Im a distant relative on my mother's side to Jane Wenham of Church End, Walkern, near Stevenage who stood trial for witchcraft in 1712 and receiv’d Sentence of Death on, March 4, 1712 Her trial took place at Hertford, in March 1712, before Sir John Powell who had instructed the jury to acquit her but as local people convicted her instead. An appeal to Queen Anne, and obtained a pardon for Jane, after which she lived in a cottage on the Cowper estate at Hertingfordbury and she died in 1729. She was just a 70-year-old poor woman who asked for some straw from a farmer and ended up getting blamed for everything that had ever gone wrong.

[@grahamkemp5102]

The only reason we know anything about the trial is due to Thomas Potts the court clerk as his account is the only one we have, he wrote "The wonderful discovery of witches in Lancashire ", all the rest stated in regards to what was said is speculation. I wrote a play on the trial which was based on Thomas Potts writings. I was the part deputy manager of Lancaster Castle when I wrote it, also with the manager of the Castle, wrote the latest book on the history of Lancaster castle.

[@legionnairegonk4425]

Alice always brings history alive! Just to remember that in some countries women are still to this day stoned to death for such absurd things as looking at another's man, or blasphemy. Ignorance is still alive and well in the world...

[@legionnairegonk4425]

@FGoogle and youtube What?

[@susanmccormick6022]

​@@legionnairegonk4425 Wonder which will come first,hooman coming of age-no more war,working together for the good of all,or the end of life on this poor overcrowded,badly used planet?Poor Gaia.

[@s3v3n3]

@@susanmccormick6022 No such thing as good. Never will be absolute good all over the planet.

[@sunny_muffins]

She`s my favorite historian.

[@Walks-with-Dave]

Gwen ferch Ellis ( ferch meaning Daughter of ) was the first woman in Wales to be executed for Witchcraft. She was hung in Denbigh Town Square Denbighshire in 1594. So very sad 😢 ❤️🐾

[@joakimblomqvist7229]

Suitable outfit and hairdo aswell! For the contence that is! Fab story, elegantly presented ❤ as usual!

[@katherinecollins4685]

Very good

[@anvilbrunner.2013]

Roger Knowle was the only witch.

[@michaelwright2174]

luv Alice Loxton presentation truly tragic misunderstanding. Good to feel gratitude dignity and honor. A Lion's pride. Luv you angel.

[@-DC-]

Alice Loxton ❤️ No one brings history to life better.

[@marcdavis4509]

Absolutely unconscionable

[@javilorenzana]

Give her ALL the videos.

[@stephencopps1561]

A lovely part of England!So many hideous events have occurred in beautiful locations😮😮

[@raph3156]

I long to travel Europe and be near home again. Thank you for talking about this.

[@twin40dave]

Unbelievable, who would live in those times ...

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

THank you;

[@magnusbruce4051]

My understanding is that the actual execution site was the field on the other side of the road just to the North of the Ashton memorial. In that field is a small plaque on a stone which vaguely refers to the "martyrs". It's about 300m from the Ashton memorial. It might be unrelated, though. I have heard that either that field or another one about quarter of a mile further up Quernmore Road is actually called "gallowshill field" which I'd say is pretty conclusive if true. The problem is, I cannot find any evidence of the actual names of either of those fields and neither could my friends when they tried to look into it even going as far as asking the local council if they knew. There is also a legend that along the way up to that site, the condemned were offered a last drink at a pub (now called The Golden Lion, but the current building is more almost certainly not the original from 1612). Supposedly, a particular person refused the offer of this drink on religious grounds. However, he was apparently pardoned at the very last minute, and had he taken that last drink then the pardon might have arrived in time for him to have been saved. Lancaster is an incredible town full of history and I miss living there.

[@sala3063]

Those men were mad that they were muggles 🧙

[@internetfasting80085]

Or they just wanted those women busy in court so they could take those womens inheritances...

[@danbailey8182]

Never trust those muggles

[@internetfasting80085]

@@danbailey8182 Remember Old Traditions Carefully 🙈🙏

[@Rick_Cleland]

I want a *_Styxhexenhammer_* garden gnome. 🧙‍♂

[@paganphil100]

That doesn't look like the road between Colne & Trawden (@3.01). I used to live in Trawden but I don't recognise the place shown in the video.

[@WeArePermaculture]

It is, it's the road that starts off as Carry Lane in Colne off Keighley Road and runs along Mire Ridge before dropping into Trawden, Colne Road I think it's called. With Boulsworth Hill looming in the near distance.

[@Headspace101]

All this on my doorstep. Need a hike up the hill again, it’s been a good while.

[@kimmaddison8686]

going to have to visit here my great ansester was hung in 1620 in newcastle

[@Laura-tp8wz]

Thanks-new sub.

[@MetaVIRTUAL]

Simon is brilliant

[@user-vi6wf4gh9x]

Pendle, old Pendle, by moorland and fell In glory and loveliness, ever to dwell On life’s faithful journey, where e’er I may be, I’ll pause in my labours, and oft think of thee. Oh Lancashire is wonderful 🌹

[@ladyhonor822]

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH ❤️ PHILADELPHIA USA🇺🇲 RN CCRN

[@gazzertrn]

She is great , intellect with looks ,superb .

[@Maleni143]

Love Alice, she is wonderful

[@mattmoore1882]

august 19th? hmmmm Alice is the best. More Alice please.

[@davidhall7744]

I remember back in the day Pendle Hill was a final clue in Treasure Hunt on Ch4, with a runner in a cross country race dressed as a witch 🧙‍♀️🚁

[@lexdavies3656]

They taught us to fear witches, not the men that burned them

[@MrJonnyd55]

Alice refuses to let anything get in the way of history….. not even her wedding.

[@runlarryrun77]

Thanks for this. The only other in depth docu on this subject is getting on now & I never managed to finish it owing to the presenter boring me to death. Some poet, I forget his name. He did a talk at my college years ago long before the other documentary was made. He was just as dull in real life.

[@jetsons101]

Reminds me of the Witch hunts of Salem Massachusetts.

[@Ionabrodie69]

That’s because these came FIRST 🙄🇬🇧

[@susanmccormick6022]

Someone gave me a book on Salem.Its hard going.

[@s3v3n3]

@@Ionabrodie69 It was the Spanish, then the Brits.

[@m-egreenisland7086]

That looks like where they filmed the last of the summer wine.

[@maleahlock]

These people were so without power that there was no hope.

[@jodu626]

living through covid i can easily see how hysteria and paranoia could make people turn on each other.

[@seanoconnor8843]

There's a lot more to this story. The lads were given 20 hard labour but the public went up in arms and they were let off in the end

[@FeralRob]

As a descendant of Alice Nutter I always find it surreal seeing people talking about her life and death. This was beautifully done though.

[@terraplane49]

And all for something which exists only in the imagination. Such a tragedy.

[@drumcircler]

Never forget the poor victims of vicious superstitions. Believers in the supernatural have caused rivers of blood.

[@susanmccormick6022]

Old Uncle Bob:And religions!

[@davidwhelan1545]

Is it due to so many strange ladies from this area??

[@MikeHunt45]

Brutal

[@redneckroy8947]

The guy who wrote that book knew what was up.

[@kelseylogas1580]

I was today days old when I learned that the names from Good Omens have a historical basis.....

[@forest_green]

Me too! My little ears perked up when I heard the names Nutter and Device!

[@lizlittle1641]

That must be where my family originated. My maiden name is Pendleton. My family came to America some time in the 1600s.

[@hannahpumpkins4359]

Do you weigh the same as a duck?