Pendle Sculpture Trail

 

If you go down to the woods near Pendle Hill in Lancashire, you're sure of a big surprise...

Hidden along the winding trail are signs and sculptures representing the ten 'Pendle Witches' who, over 400 years ago, were accused of witchcraft, then tried and hanged at nearby Lancaster Castle.



It all started on 18th March 1612 when local woman Alizon Device cursed a pedlar who refused to give her some pins. He fell down and couldn't move, so Alizon was accused of witchcraft.  Robert Nowell (above) led the investigation, which was to become Britain's biggest witch hunt. 

To mark the 400 year anniversary of the trial, local artists created the Pendle Sculpture Trail. All of the 'witches' are represented on clay tablets. Anne Redferne, for example, was accused of trying to kill a man by making a clay doll and sticking pins into it (similar to 'Voodoo' practices in other parts of the World).

We thoroughly enjoyed discovering the wonderful sculptures hidden in the forest and learning about the Pendle Witches. Our favourite sculptures had to be Reconnected I and II (above and below), which give new life to dead trees.