Pendle Witches Tour – Fence Hoarstones Lodge Some local folklore and stories suggest that "Hoarstones Lodge" (likely referring to a building on the Hoarstones estate) was a meeting place for the Pendle witches. While the details of these meetings are shrouded in legend, the connection persists due to its proximity to Pendle Hill, a central location in the witch trials. An iron cross found in the walls of the present-day Hoarstones House (rebuilt in 1895 from an earlier 16th-century building) may have been placed there as a defense against witchcraft, suggesting a belief in its efficacy during the period of the witch trials. The present Hoarstones House dates from about 1895, rebuilt on the site of an earlier 16th-century building. This earlier structure would have been contemporary with the Pendle Witch trials. Hoarstones is situated within the village of Fence, which itself has strong historical ties to the Pendle Forest and its association with the witch trials. The village name "Fence" derives from an enclosure erected within the royal forest of Pendle to keep the King's deer. In summary, while the idea of a prominent stone circle at Hoarstones appears to be a modern myth, the location still carries significant historical weight due to its connection to the 1633 witchcraft trials and local folklore surrounding the Pendle Witches. The name itself likely refers to ancient boundary markers, rather than a ceremonial stone arrangement.
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