English ‘Witch Cottage’

By ⋅ December 8, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment
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'Witch' cottage ruins (BBC Video)

'Witch' cottage ruins (BBC Video)

There’s a little witchcraft involved in the Geo Quiz this time: we’re looking for a place in north-west England that’s closely linked with witches.

The association goes back to 1612 and a series of witch trials.

The accused were all men and women who lived near a flat topped, sandstone hill.

It looks out over the towns of Barley, Clitheroe, and the Forest of Bowland.

Cat skeleton (BBC Video)

This cat skeleton was found at the site. (BBC Video)

Today, this hill attracts tourists in search of broomsticks and black cats.

And historians in search of real clues about the 17th century events.

Now archaelogists say they’ve made a stunning discovery: a witch’s cottage, including the skeleton of one, possibly black, cat.

They found all this in Pendle Hill, Lancashire, England. Anchor Marco Werman finds out more from Simon Entwistle, a witch trial expert and local tour guide.

Discussion

2 comments for “English ‘Witch Cottage’”

  • Anonymous

    “Pendle Hill” is linguistic wonder – to quote from Wikipedia: “The name “Pendle Hill” combines the words for hill from three different languages, as does Bredon Hill inWorcestershire. In the 13th century it was called Pennul or Penhul, apparently from the Cumbric pen and Old Englishhyll, both meaning “hill”. The modern English ”hill” was appended later, after the original meaning of Pendle had become opaque.” 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Carole-Elizabeth-Ballard/653988584 Carole Elizabeth Ballard

    Wow, talk about an article dumbed down!   There is no evidence that the cat was black, and they are often found in spaces where they can first reach, then cannot get out of.  Chimneys where a favorite, the cat would go on a warm shelf and suffocate itself.   Dead cats are alleged to be placed in walls to keep spirits away and bad luck, but, I doubt very such anyone alleged to be a witch would brick one up deliberately.
    As a further comment, the items in the house where 19th Century – NOT 16th or 17th when the Witch Trials took place.