Pendle Witches

by Walter Bennett

32p stapled booklet, brown card cover faded to edges, a few small stains to cover, text unmarked, binding firm

Genres: History, Witchcraft

32 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1993

Reviews

[Rachael Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little informative booklet about the Pendle Witches - or, perhaps more fittingly, about the absolute maniacs of the 1600s! :-\ Let's just say, I'm pleased I wasn't around in those times. It wasn't actually the accused witches who gave me the most cause for concern either - it was the rest of society, eek.

...funnily enough, on a completely separate issue, I'm booked on a trip to visit Pendle on the exact 400th anniversary of when the Pendle Witches were charged - which was complete coincidence on my behalf. Anyway it made me think, don't those kinds of coincidences only happen in the movies? *insert spooky music* Like where the evil spirits of those wrongly done to rise from the dead on exact anniversary dates (the longer the timeframe the better) to seek their revenge on innocent bystanders? :-D

Well, it tickled me anyway! And I'll be sure to let you all know if I do happen to see Chattox or Demdike, when I get back.

...if I get back :-D

Update: I'm back from my trip to Pendle - I didn't see any witches, but I did see the aftermath of a wedding party bust-up, which had included the bride fighting in her wedding dress :-\

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful booklet, pulling together the main details of the accusations, trial and convictions of the Pendle witches.

Whilst the cry of ‘witch’ isn’t heard in modern Britain, unlike the 1600s, the baying of the noisy minority, particularly on social media, does have some unpleasant similarities to those times. The cyclical nature of history?

[Kirsty Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this factual book on the people unfairly accused as witches , stating the dates of the events and mainly the court case that proceeded it . It was sympathetic to their circumstances that may have lead to the accusations and gave a good background to the people and environment of the time

[Helen Marsden · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather bland read but informative. Doesn't say much about the actual execution of the witches.

[Stefan Zak · Rating 3 out of 5]

The case of the Pendle Witches was so sad, and as this book shows was a product of superstition, revenge and ignorance. The book is very compact, and provides a small background/context of the Witchcraze, then the rest of the book is occupied with a chronology of the events from Pendle in 1612, finishing with a brief summary of the events.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good, informative booklet about the Pendle Witches. Gives accounts of the accusations, evidence (or lack of) and confessions of the trials.
Short (31 pages) but interesting!