Witches
Uncover tales of magic and mystery and explore the darker side of Lancashire's past. Visit the home of notorious witch hunter Thomas Covell and see where the Lancashire witches were imprisoned, tried and condemned to death.
Did witches really exist or were they innocent people wrongly accused? Fear, superstition, ignorance and intolerance fuelled the notion of witchcraft which raged through England in the 16th and 17th centuries. Around 2000 people were tried for witchcraft between 1575 and 1675. Uncover tales of myth and magic. Explore the darker side of Lancashire's history and discover stories of some of the people involved including the famous Pendle witches, 10 of which were hanged at Lancaster after being found guilty of murder.
2012 is the 400th anniversary of the trail of the Pendle witches which took place in 1612 at Lancaster Castle. Lancashire Museum Service will hold exhibitions, talks, events and much more to commemorate this and you can read the story day by day by following Lancashire Heritage on Twitter.
A Wonderfull Discoverie: Lancashire Witches 1612-2012
Gawthorpe Hall
31 March - 8 July 2012
Lancaster City Museum
21 July - 29 September 2012
Exploring the case and its context, investigating superstitions and beliefs.
Spellbound: Perceptions from Pendle Hill
Clitheroe Castle Museum
1 March - 5 June 2012
Contemporary artists' work exploring the landscape of the Pendle area.
Spellbound: Superstition, stories and the silver screen
Judges Lodgings' Lancaster
1 April - 31 October 2012
Witches and witchcraft as shown in popular culture.
Lancaster Castle
Year-round tours all include the story of the Lancashire Witches told by expert guides.
Gawthorpe Hall
Home to the Shuttleworth family for many hundreds of years, Gawthorpe Hall is a grand Elizabethan house set close to Pendle Witch country.
- Home of Colonel Richard Shuttleworth, wealthy Elizabethan barrister
- Located near to Pendle Hill, an excellent starting point to explore witch country!
More information about Gawthorpe Hall
Judges' Lodgings
A fine Grade 1 listed 17th century town house in the heart of Lancaster. Explore this wonderful town house and find out more about its notorious former residents.
- Renovated by owner and infamous 'witch hunter' Thomas Covell, who lived there from 1590 - 1638.
- During his time in Lancaster, Covell held many important positions including Keeper of Lancaster Castle, County Magistrate and Coroner.
- Covell’s position as Keeper of Lancaster Castle meant that he was responsible for the imprisonment, interrogation and execution of those unfortunate enough to fall into his hands - including the Pendle Witches.
- Discover more about Covell and Lancaster’s witch trials
- Find out more about the witches by visiting the near by Castle where they were tried and condemned
More information about Judges' Lodgings
Lancaster Castle
Lancaster Castle is steeped in 1000 years of history throughout which it has been connected to law and justice. Some of its most famous prisoners were the Pendle witches. Clerk of the Court Thomas Potts published an account of the trial in 1613 entitled, "The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster."
- In 1612 the Pendle Witches were arrested and brought to Lancaster for trial.
- They were imprisoned at Lancaster Castle in the Well Tower, later often referred to as the Witches Tower, where they were kept in terrible conditions.
- Keeper of the Castle Thomas Covell was the man responsible for them until their trial on 18th and 19th August 1612.
- Discover more about this fascinating story and see where the witches were tried and condemned to die.
- Visit near by Judges’ Lodgings former home of witch hunter and jailer to the Pendle witches, Thomas Covell