Pendle Hill- Lancashire
.jpg)
In 1612 ten people were
executed on the moors about Lancaster, having been found guilty of witchcraft
at Lancaster Castle. The evidence given against the so called ‘Pendle Witches’
was based on memories, hearsay and superstition and would not be considered in
a modern court. But life was very different 400 years ago; religious
persecution was rife and people lived in wretched fear and poverty.
Over 400 years later you have
the chance to follow the journey taken by the accused witches, to learn about
their lives and the trial that made British history. From the untamed moorlands
of Pendle Hill to the mighty court of Lancaster, take a journey of discovery
through Lancashire’s dramatic and historic past.
Engineers have said they were "stunned" to unearth a 17th
Century cottage, complete with a cat skeleton, during a construction project
in.
The cottage was discovered near Lower Black Moss reservoir in the
village of Barley, in the shadow of Pendle Hill.
Archaeologists brought in by United Utilities to survey the area found
the building under a grass mound.
Historians are now speculating that the well-preserved cottage could
have belonged to one of the Pendle witches.
The building contained a sealed room, with the bones of a cat bricked
into the wall.
It is believed the cat was buried alive to protect the cottage's inhabitants
from evil spirits.
Tutankhamen's tomb
Carl Sanders, United Utilities' project manager, said: "It's not
often you come across a fairytale cottage complete with witch's cat.
"The building is in remarkable condition. You can walk through it
and get a real sense that you're peering into the past.
"Pendle Hill has a real aura about it, and it's hard not to be
affected by the place.
"Even before we discovered the building, there were lots of jokes
from the lads about broomsticks and black cats. The find has really stunned us
all."
Simon Entwistle, an expert on the Pendle witches, said: "In terms
of significance, it's like discovering Tutankhamen's tomb.
"We are just a few months away from the 400th anniversary of the
Pendle witch trials, and here we have an incredibly rare find, right in the
heart of witching country. This could well be the famous Malkin Tower - which
has been a source of speculation and rumour for centuries.
"Cats feature prominently in folklore about witches. Whoever
consigned this cat to such a horrible fate was clearly seeking protection from
evil spirits."
Something special
United Utilities routinely brings in experts before turning the topsoil
in areas believed to have archaeological significance.
Frank Giecco, from NP Archaeology, who unearthed the building, said:
"It's like discovering your own little Pompeii. We rarely get the
opportunity to work with something so well preserved.
"As soon as we started digging, we found the tops of doors, and
knew we were on to something special.
"The building is a microcosm for the rise and fall of this area,
from the time of the Pendle witches to the industrial age. There are layers of
local history right before your eyes."
The engineering project has been put on hold while the archaeologists
complete their investigation of the site.
The building also contains a 19th Century kitchen range, still in its
original position.
Many artefacts from the building's latter years, such as Victorian
crockery, a tin bath and a bedstead, were discovered around the site.
Lancaster witch trials
Held at Lancaster
Castle in August 1612.
Eleven Pendle
people charged with murder by witchcraft.
Additional alleged
Pendle witch tried at York Castle.
Ten found guilty
and hanged, one died while awaiting trial, one found not guilty.
Trials made famous
by publication of The Wonderful Discoveries of Witches in the County of
Lancaster (by clerk of the court Thomas Potts).
To Watch Paranormal Activity,
For more videos, Please click,
No comments:
Post a Comment