The summit of Pendle Hill
Police are appealing to Halloween revellers to stay away from a hill noted for its 17th century witch trials.
Pendle Hill in Lancashire has become a hotspot for thousands of visitors over the past few years, but police say this is now causing problems.
A spokesperson said the Ribble Valley Event Safety Advisory Group is coordinating a plan to control access to Pendle Hill following concerns expressed about the growth of the event, heavy traffic, alcohol-related disorder and the use of fireworks.
Agencies agreed the hill is not suitable for these types of activities involving such large numbers of people.
The main focus for previous gatherings has been the south-western slopes around the Nick of Pendle, and the road between the A59 at Clitheroe and the village of Sabden.
Lancashire Constabulary said the hill will be closed to parked cars, fairground rides and catering vehicles between 5pm on 31 October and 3am the following day.
Inspector Chris Saville said: “As with previous years, it has been necessary to take these precautions to ensure the public remain safe on Pendle Hill this Halloween.
“Previous policing operations have been extremely successful with significant reductions in incidents of both anti-social behaviour and criminal damage.”
A one-way system will be in place on the road over the Nick of Pendle, with traffic barred from using the road from Sabden. Half of the road will be coned off to allow pedestrians to walk to the celebrations, and specialist units will be on hand to remove any parked cars, fairground rides and catering vans.
Local residents will receive leaflets about the restrictions, which have the backing of Sabden Parish Council.
The 557m (1,827ft) Pendle Hill is surrounded by villages capitalising on the notorious witch trials in 1612, which led to the hanging of 10 women and men convicted of acts of witchcraft.
Witch of Pendle
18 October 2011They do this every year... telling people to stay off, its rather boring now.
It's nice to see people believe in Witchcraft still, by the annual patronage and pilgrimage to the site.
Brianna
18 October 2011but I would think that this should be a more solemn place during this time since in witchcraft, Halloween is the time of Samhain and why would you have fairground rides etc etc? a time to reach out to the poor women who were killed for being a witch or for being thought of as a witch.
do not see it being closed, but closed to party goers yes. just does not see right.
Witch of Pendle
18 October 2011Brianna, the only reason, Pendle Hill is associated with the Pendle Witches is that there was, allegedly, Malkin Tower there, and they where walked over the hill to Jail.
How better to remember them in celebration, than fear?
Samhain is not a time for sorrow, that is a Christian concept of death. Samhain is a time to remember the old ones, and celebrate the new Celtic year, it is a duel festival of rememberence and joviality - after 12 midnight you enter the new year and you have a party.
As a witch of Pendle, I am glad there are celebrants on the hill - for one, it stops the Christian factions from denying us our rights and trying to surpress us.
G. Bedford
19 October 2011Don't you feel that it's getting to a point where people are coming because they watched Britain's most haunted and think it'll be a bit of a giggle? These women and men were our people murdered and they do deserve respect that they weren't shown in life. I've traveled past many times and felt the sadness and desolation of the hill.Don't turn it into a ghore fest for the sensationally inquisitive. As to the witch of Pendle does she not feel for all who where tried for heresy as a witch she should feel their pain as a lot of True Witches do or is she mainly an entertainer for the inquisitively macarb?
Charles Britten
19 October 2011557 metres = 1,827 ft, not 1,927. The conversion ratio is 3.2808
Bob
19 October 2011Charles, thanks for pointing out our error, which has been corrected. I believe the problem arose because 8 is adjacent to 9 on the keyboard. Our apologies.
Bob, editor
Witch Of Pendle
19 October 2011G Bedford
As a witch of Pendle, brought up, and having run a coven ON Pendle Hill, of course I feel sorry and sad for the horrific murders in the name of Witchcraft, not just on Pendle but around the world, many of which, where innocent men, women and children (and pigs if you read the Malius Mallificarum).
HOWEVER
I also feel sorry for our soldiers who are being killed in war.
I also feel sorry for the children in Nigeria who are being tortured in the name of witchcraft NOW.
I would rather put my energies, to stopping war and stopping the abuse of children in Nigeria, as they are far more a relevant causes which are happening now.
We cannot change the past but we do not have to act like victims.
We can change the future however and dwelling on the past isn't going to do that.
Nowhere did I say these women did not deserve respect and, being related to them, and working, where they lived, I have always had an affinity with them above all other cases of the witchcraft trials, however, these revellers are just that.
For many many years the Christian fundamentalists in that area have tried to stop us going up Pendle, not just the Police, courtesy of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph et all papers, in the area, this is always a big deal at this time of year with the certain ecclesiastical bodies trying to stop people going up there on that night.
If people going up, and having a fun time allows us the freedom that we have as citizens, without the ecclesiastical pressure to stop us, the same pressure who killed these people in the first place, then that is fine by me.
Remember - these women did not die on Pendle! They died away from it, so it is not sacrilege to go up Pendle just because they happen to be called The Pendle Witches, this is a generic term because they lived AROUND the area, not on it.
One thing I would agree with, is to stop fairground rides and food vans from being up there. That IS going over the top - but, don't stop anyone wanting to go up without this need for entertainment.
pendle goblin
21 October 2011Pendle Witch are you related to the NUTTERS by any chance???
Frank Watson
31 October 2011Having lived in the area for many years, I know the reason why Pendle Hill became a no-go area a few years ago was because it was turning into a circus. Fairground rides & Hot Dog stands, drunks falling all over the place. This was not the way to go...
Frank Watson, Clitheroe
www.ahaunting experience.co.uk
River
31 October 2011Surely it's a good thing for the area that so many people feel called there, at one of the darkest times in Winter, and one of the darkest times in our world's history to pay due respect to the forces of darkness, and simultaneously and uproariously reaffirm their life force?
It's entirely wrong of the authorities to attempt to suppress this celebration. Nobody has control of it, because it is like nature, it just happens, and it can be awesome. There is meant to be freedom of religion in this country, and this is a celebration of the most ancient religion, one which has been suppressed, but never entirely forgotten.
Leave solemnity and quietness for other times. Halloween night is a night to blaze like a bonfire and light up the darkness.
I'm looking forward to an exciting night under the sky, where people feel a rare opportunity to be wild and free, and where we can be joyful together. So may it be.
chris
18 January 2012you're all barking
paul
13 October 2012i may go up this year . my mother inlaw past away last year and she was a distant relative of alice nutter and offen talked about them her aunt was a strange looking woman jet black eyes . not been up so may give it a go .
wiccawoman
27 October 2012well im going...and im gonna bloody enjoy it
Winne
21 February 2014What happened to Bess Demdike and her family and others at the hands of Roger Nowell was a huge miscarriage of justice.
I have recently been very drawn to the hill and find it an awe inspiring place of majesty.
The cunning folk of Pendle forest eking out a living were good peopole and completely misrepresented.
Many people use the word witch as a term of denigration so I refuse to call them that with that sense to it. What they practiced and the good they did for people is ignored and misunderstood.
I feel a very strong sense of awe and respect for Mother Demdike. God rest their souls.
Their final days from Spring to Autumn 1612 must have been terrifying. To force the youngest child to give evidence against her family, and omit any evidence that would have saved them, to torture them and twist what they said to force confessions out of them individually. I know who I think is evil in that story.
Perhaps those who mock today might like to find out what really happened.
jon
08 September 2016Hello, can anyone tell me the best place to head for on Halloween night, i will be staying in a motorhome overnight and really want to get absorbed in the night.
Thank you
Jon