Pendle Witches Tour – Fence Fence, a village nestled in Pendle Forest, has direct ties to the witch trials: Anne Whittle (Old Chattox) was a resident of Fence. Cuckstool Lane According to local historical records, Cuckstool Lane, which runs south from the War Memorial, was the original location of the village’s ducking stool. This was a device once used to punish suspected witches and, purportedly, suspected cuckolds (those thought to have committed adultery) by immersing them into a pond. Ashlar House Sometimes known as Hewn Atchelor, was built around 1594. It is a Grade II* listed building, located in Higham-with-West Close Booth, Lancashire, specifically on Barrowford Road. Pendle Witches Connection: It is most notably connected to the Pendle Witch Trials of 1612. After their arrest, some of the accused, including Old Demdike (Elizabeth Southernes) and Old Chattox (Ann Whittle), were reportedly taken to Ashlar House for examination of their evidence by local Justice Roger Nowell of Read Hall. The house is built of stone with a stone slate roof. It has a two-storey porch, and features moulded tablets with inscriptions including "1594 Richard Grimshaw John Boxand Fear God, know thyself Honor the Prince." It has stone mullion and transom windows, and some interior features include a stone moulded doorway with a decorated head. It may have originally served as a Catholic Chapel and dwelling house for a priest, and was also known as the New House within the Forest of Pendle.
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