Episode 11: The Pendle Witch Trials

Apr 3

When it rains in the Borough of Pendle, it Pours…

Episode Transcripts

For centuries, mankind has been governed by law and justice. In fact, the virtue is likely one of the very first cornerstones of our civilized society.

Take the Code of Hammurabi, for instance, one of the oldest legal writings known to man. Dating back to 1792 BCE, this codex contains 282 laws established by King Hammurabi, as a standard code of conduct for the citizens of ancient Babylonia.

The laws instilled in this text are fairly straightforward, outlining everything from trade and building codes to property and even domestic affairs. And as I’m sure you may have guessed, the consequences of crime and punishment are described in great detail, right there in black and white.

But even after this law of man was set in stone, humanity continued to grapple with the concepts of morality. The works of Plato, Socrates, Aristotle and countless others are indicative of this—each pondering the blurred lines between right and wrong.

All of this is drawn-out way of saying that we have long been fascinated by the duality of good and evil. What qualities make up a good person? What actions are that of an evil one? And who of us is even qualified to decided?

But more importantly, what happens when our laws are no longer upheld and justice is wrongfully served? Well as it turns out the repercussions of such mistakes can be quite haunting.

I’m Courtney Hayes and you’re listening to haunts. Stay tuned…

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Upon first glance, Lancashire County England would appear to be a peaceful and serene place to call home—and for the most part, that assumption would be true. Between the region’s rich history, pristine coastlines, and wide rolling hills, well it’s no wonder why Lancashire is routinely voted as one of the best places to live in all of the British isles. But even in the midst of this tranquil locale, lies a rather chilling legend.

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It all began in the Borough of Pendle, where two prominent families were feuding in the shadow of an otherwise unsuspecting hill.

At the end of the the 16th century, Elizabeth Southerns of the Demdike family worked as the borough’s local healer. Which is exactly why she was regarded in town as a witch. And by extension the same could be said her family.

Now given the grim connotations that once surrounded the term witch, this may sound like bad news bears for Elizabeth and her loved ones. But, as it turns out, witches and healers of the era were actually pretty well respected.

In fact, up until the year 1603, when king James the 1st published his renowned pamphlet on demonology and black magic, witchcraft was revered as a fascinating topic in the eyes of the British Public. So it comes at no surprise that the Demdike’s were very well liked within this close knit community. Not to mention, Elizabeth herself had spared many of her neighbors from a great deal of pain and suffering over the years. So for that, they were forever in her debt.

But even in spite of her professional reputation, Elizabeth Southerns wasn’t well liked by every single member of the Pendle community. And Anne Whittle, of the Chattox family, was her most outspoken adversary.

You see, Chattox was another prominent name in Pendle at the time, and this family too was known to dabble in witchcraft. Presumably, this was cause for both household to constantly be at each other’s throats. One would accuse the other of stealing large sums money. Chronic ailments were often pinned on the opposing family. And Blame was being cast out for everything from major misfortunes to minor inconveniences. For this was a vicious and unproductive cycle that played out over the course of several decades.

Simply put, these two rivaling families had a lengthy and tumultuous relationship—one that would ultimately end in fire at the top of the now infamous Pendle Hill.

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It was the first day of spring, 1612, when Alizon Device of the Demdike family took a stroll through Trawden Forest. I can only imagine that the woodland was finally full of life, now that the especially long and unforgiving winter was over. Alizon herself likely felt invigorated, with the energy of the forest enveloping her as she wondered through the trees.

At some point along her way, Alizon encounters a pedlar named John Law, along with his son Abraham. The farther-son duo had been traveling to their home in Halifax, but upon this encounter the three travelers stopped to exchange pleasantries. And that’s when Alizon saw it, a glimmering piece of metal pinned to John’s waistcoat.

The broach was likely a simple little thing, but back in those days even the most superficial of pins would have been considered a sign of wealth. Not to mention, these glittering items were often used in witchcraft. Which is more than likely why Alizon offered to buy the pendant off of him.

Now from what I can tell, Alizon’s proposal may have been a bit…assertive in nature. In fact her offer came out as more of a demand than a simple request. Not to mention, the pendant was not for sale, so John declined.

By the time the travelers parted ways, Alizon had grown quite disgruntled—muttering bitterly under her breath as she walked away. John on the other hand only made it a few more steps before falling to the ground. As it seemed Alizon Device had placed a curse on John Law.

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In the weeks that followed, John’s sudden illness began to take a toll. He had become bedridden, too weak to even move about his home. Meanwhile, Alizon Device was instead plagued by her guilt.

You see, Alizon was a good person, at least by her own measure. She was not a healer like her grandmother and she certainly never intended to curse an innocent man. She merely wanted strike a bargain, so how could things have come to this?

As the days past, poor Alizon could not bare it any longer, so she sent for Abraham Law. Together, the pair traveled back to Halifax where Alizon sat by John’s bedside and prayed for a smooth recovery.

But in the end, this would not save Alizon from the events that were about to transpire. Because even as she wept at John’s bedside, a perfect storm was brewing on the outskirts of this once quiet community. And as we are about to see, when it rains in the Borough of Pendle, its pours.

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If we were to look at this story through a more modern lens, I think we would all agree that the sudden onset of John’s symptoms were coincidental at best. In fact, most historians believe that John Law suffered a stroke on that fateful afternoon, at the precise moment that Alizon Device muttered mindlessly to herself.

By today’s standards, it’s an open-shut case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time and likely nothing more. But back in the spring of 1612, Alizon’s apparent guilt was damn near overwhelming. So come April 30th, Alizon Device alongside her mother, Elizabeth, and her brother James, was summoned to a hearing with Justice roger Nowell.

Now for some contextual background, you should know, it was around this time that the narrative surrounding the term witch was changing in England. As we learned earlier in the episode, topics relating to witchcraft were generally praised by the British public during the 16th century. However, in 1603 king James I released his dissertation entitled demonology, which covered the topics is necromancy, black magic, and coincidentally, the practice of witch hunting.

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I will have a copy of the pamphlet linked in this episode’s show notes in case you are But for now it should be mentioned that this document is what incited the very first witch trials of Great Britain. And among the countless accused were none other than Alizon Device and the Demdike Family.

So in light of that, let’s continue with the family’s first impressions of Justice Roger Nowell. When they entered the judges home, Alizon and her family were likely met with animosity. After all, Alizon had intentionally caused John Law’s untimely death by means of magic. And what’s worse is that Alizon, being the granddaughter of seasoned healer, likely could have spared him, if only she had tried. Or so Abraham Law testified during this first meeting.

Alizon, on the other hand, told a slightly different version of this story. Now she did admit to cursing John Law, but not in the sense that you might think. You see, Alizon’s mutterings were more akin to our own frustrations when we are stuck in rush hour traffic or forget to buy bread at the grocery store. She had been irritated sure, but Alizon never set out to curse anyone. And for that matter, she wasn’t entirely convinced that she was capable of such a feat. Because as it turns out, Alizon Device had never practiced magic a day in her life.

But even she had to admit, the timing had been uncanny and she had been overcome with feelings guilt for weeks. So maybe Alizon had unknowingly cursed John Law as they parted ways in Trawden Forest. And given her lack of experience in the area of witchcraft, she didn’t have the know-how to reverse it.

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In the end, Alizon Device made a full confession for her crimes as a witch. And so it was decided that she would be sent to trial. Only she had no intentions going down alone. Because as we all know by now, the misfortunes of the Demdike Family often meant the same for the House Chattox.

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By the time that Alizon left her hearing before Justice Nowell, three more members of the Pendle community had been accused of witchcraft. According to Alizon’s testimony, Anne “Chattox” Whittle, of the Chattox family, along with her daughter Anne Redferne, had together murdered a total of 5 men by means of magic. And among those victims, was none other than Alizon’s own father John Device.

It was a bold claim to make. Accusing two of her own neighbors, who weren’t present or even involved in the situation at hand, of such a serious crime. But be that as it may, these allegations caught Justice Nowell’s attention.

So in the days that followed Chattox and Anne, alongside their long time rival, Elizabeth Southerns, were summoned to their own hearing at the Nowell residence. And by the end of the discussion, both matriarchs had admitted that they too had sold their soul to the devil.

Anne Redferne on the other hand, remained adamant in her innocence. That is until her own mother pointed a finger at her. So it would seem, no one was safe from blame. And blood? Well it doesn’t always run thicker than water.

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Before all was said and done, six more would be accused of witchcraft. Along with Elizabeth and James Device, Katherine Hewitt, John and Jane Bulcock, and Alice Grey had all been found guilty of witchcraft, before their trail even began. So they were sent to Lancaster Castle where they were doomed to wait 4 long months. Then on August 18th, 1612, the nightmare truly began.

The Pendle Witch Trails, as they are known today, took place over the course of only two days. During which, the accused were denied witnesses who could testify to their innocence. But here’s the kicker, the trial was then based solely on the testimony of a 9-year-old child.

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I can only imagine the anxiety that young Jennet Device must have felt as she took the stand. In the days leading up until that point, she was likely given a slew of instructions. What to say, when to say it, and who to say it to, all while being asked to look her own mother, dead in the eyes throughout the entire song and dance.

Oh and she likely didn’t mean a single word of the story she told. The following are the words of Jennet’s testimony against her mother quote: “My mother is a witch and that I know to be true. I have seen her spirit in the likeness of a brown dog, which she calls Ball. The dog did ask what she would have him do, and she answered that she would have him help her to kill.” End quote.

Her youngest child’s testimony, sent Elizabeth Device into a fit of hysteria. She screamed and cried as they forcibly removed her from the courtroom, all while her own daughter said the words that would ultimately sentence her to death.

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Only Alice Grey was found not guilty for the crime of witchcraft and as such she was the only one spared from the mayhem that was about to ensue. As for the rest? Well it would seem that the families rivaled reputations had finally caught up with them.

So the following day, the now confirmed witches of the Demdike and Chattox families were marched to the top of Pendle Hill. It was there, at the site of the Lancaster gallows, that the nine accused paid the ultimate price for their supposed sins. And if the rumors are true, the now defamed Pendle Witches may remain there to this day.

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It’s no question that the story of the Pendle Witch Trials is frightening in its own right. But even so, we are still missing a very important element to this tale, one that’s a bit more ghostly in nature. So before we end today’s episode, let’s return to the top of Pendle Hill—only this time in the more modern era.

Over the last 5 centuries, Pendle Hill has formed quiet a haunting reputation. In fact, locals of the surrounding townships rarely visit the site or even speak about the events surrounding the Pendle Witch Trials—evidently being too fearful that they themselves may be haunted or cursed by the spirits of this hillside.

Maybe it’s a local superstition based on a centuries old story that, while tragic, remains just that. A story. But for those of us who are brave enough to take the trip out to Pendle Hill for ourselves, we may just find that there is some merit to those claims.

Now given the rich but dark history of Pendle Hill, its no wonder why this haunt is a popular destination for paranormal enthusiasts and investigators—many of whom report strange experiences at the site.

The most common report is that those visiting Pendle Hill will often experience an overwhelming sense of anger, only this rage is apparently not their own. Instead, the feeling is more of an external force that captivates their senses. So it would seems, the spirits haunting the location aren’t too welcoming of their frequent guests, and they are not afraid to show their displeasure.

Take the experience of Derek Acorah, for instance, who visited Pendle Hill to film an episode of the Travel Channel series Most Haunted in 2004. Now Derek Acorah is an accomplished spirit medium, one who has investigated some of the most haunted locations in the world, so an investigation of Pendle Hill should have been fairly run of the mill.

And it was at first, that is until he connected with the spirit of none other than Elizabeth Device, who was not too happy to see him. In fact, Elizabeth told Acorah that there was a total of 9 spirits present and none of them wanted the crew to be there.

Now it is true that Acorah’s work has sparked some controversy over the years. So it’s not hard to dismiss this experience as nothing more than a bit of TV magic. But I should tell you, things only got stranger for the Most Haunted team as they continued filming the episode.

In fact, not long after Acorah connected with the spirit of Elizabeth Device, a member of the crew was attacked by an unseen force—stating even that a spirit tried to strangle them. Again, maybe this was bit of TV magic, but still quite the chilling claim none the less.

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Now you don’t have to work on a paranormal TV show to have an experience at pendle hill. In fact, countless independent investigators have told their own frightening stories about this haunt. And in opinion at least, it’s these experiences that hold a bit more water.

For example, Haunted Happenings is a team of Paranormal Investigators based in Nottingham England. And on one of their many investigations at Pendle Hill, they collected quiet the interesting piece of evidence.

On this night in particular, the Haunted Happenings team was conducting an experiment using ouija board when they heard the sound of something hard hitting their table. Now mind you, the team was entirely alone, with nothing around but a few old but well maintained buildings. So you can imagine their surprise when they found a single tooth sitting in the center of the board.

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By now, you may be wondering what came of young Jannet Device after her entire family was hanged a Pendle Hill. Throughout history, the girl has been painted both as a martyr, who was forced to testify against her own family, and an ungrateful child, who was all too willing to send them to the gallows.

But regardless of the true role she played in this tale, in the end, Jannet Device couldn’t escape her late family’s notoriety. In fact, decades after the pendle witch trials, she too was accused witchcraft and ultimately lost her life at the very same gallows atop the very same hill. A fact that only giving credence to the local rumors that the site is cursed.

So there lies the question: was Jannet Device’s untimely passing karmic retribution or maybe just a bit of bad luck? Or could it be that the grounds of Pendle Hill hold onto a somewhat darker power? Well as always, I’ll let you make that call for yourself.

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Credits