SPECIAL WALK on 18 AUGUST TO EXPLORE HOW CHANGING LAND CAUSED THE PENDLE WITCHES DEATHS AND HOW THE LAND IS RAPIDLY CHANGING TODAY

How changing land use led to the Pendle Witches Deaths and how the land is changing rapidly today 

Unite member Charlie Clutterbuck is organising a special walk near Barley on 18 August at Barley Car Park BB12 9JY Meet at 11am - return to car park by 1.30pm at latest for refreshments at nearby cafe. 

Many thanks to Mark Harvey of ID8 photography for allowing me to use this and other photographs and all of which are copyright Mark Harvey and not to be reproduced elsewhere without his permission 

It involves exploring how changing land use played an important role in the deaths of the Pendle Witches four hundred years ago plus examining (see article on Carbon Counting elsewhere on this blog) how land use will alter dramatically over the next decade.

In Pendle, land remained ‘common’ at the end of the 16^th century. This was not the case around large parts of nearby Burnley and many inhabitants were evicted after common lands was enclosed by Sir John Townley, head of a famous Catholic family. Instead of living on home produced meat, cheese and vegetables, families now relied on bread and potatoes. Dispossessed families flocked to Pendle Forest (which was not, in fact, woody as ‘forest’ then meant ‘a tract of land belonging to the sovereign and set apart for game.’)

However, the land there was – and still is – generally unproductive and impoverished arrivals were often forced to rely on begging and stealing.

James Device was one of those left landless and he took out his revenge by digging up turf at Carre Hall, which was only demolished in 1954, home to one of the Townley family.  Device was accused of being a witch. In a clear case of grooming his sister, Jennet, aged just 9, stated that James had muttered curses during his protest. Jennet Device subsequently gave evidence against her neighbours and family at the Pendle Witches trial.

Other possible sources of income around Pendle were to become a village healer who practised magic and dealt in herbs and medicines and the extent of witchcraft reported in Pendle at the time may reflect that many people were posing as witches.

The Witch Finder

In 1605, Guy Fawkes had tried to blow up parliament and Shakespeare had written Macbeth for King James I, who was particularly fearful of witches and who the King blamed for a bad return journey from Denmark. During the Pendle Witch Trials, connections to the ‘gunpowder plot’ were quoted.

With paranoia rife and royal, twelve people local to Pendle Forest were imprisoned after they were charged with using witchcraft in a number of incidents and arguments with other local people.

One of the accused  – Elizabeth Southern (‘Demdike’) – died in prison before the start of the trials and following which nine people – seven women and two men – Alizon Device, Anne Whittle, Alice Nutter, James Device, Elizabeth Device, Katherine Hewitt, John Bulcock, Jane Bulcock and Anne Redferyne were convicted of witchcraft. They were  executed on 20 August 1612 at Gallows Hill on the Moors above Lancaster.

                                                The Pendle Witches by Peter Naylor 

They died in the traditional manner of executions; first being made to stand tied together on a cart, wait while a rope was fastened around their neck and then killed as the cart was moved away.

This legendary story features prominently in the Pendle Sculpture Trail outside Barley. It will be incorporated into the walk on the day along with a practical appraisal of how the current landscape is changing due to government plans to subsidise the planting of trees at the expense of food production.

Places will be limited on the walks with a maximum of 18. To find out more please contact either Charlie on 01254 828114 charlie@sustainablefood.com or Mark on 07392 852561 metcalfmc@outlook.com

 

 

This walk is organised as a result of joint work over many years between Charlie and Mark for the Landworker magazine of Unite the union.