Pendle Witches Tour – Stop 1: Read The village of Read in Lancashire played a significant role in the infamous Pendle Witch Trials of 1612, primarily through the actions of Roger Nowell, the local Justice of the Peace. Read Hall Roger Nowell resided at Read Hall, which served as his seat of power. It was here that many of the initial investigations and examinations of the accused “witches” took place. The Catalyst The events leading to the trials began in March 1612, when Alizon Device, a young woman from the Pendle area, had an encounter with a pedlar named John Law. After an argument, Law suffered what was likely a stroke, but he and his son, Abraham Law, attributed his illness to witchcraft by Alizon. Nowell’s Involvement Abraham Law brought Alizon, along with her mother Elizabeth and brother James, to Read Hall for questioning by Roger Nowell. As magistrate, Nowell had the authority to conduct examinations himself and gather evidence. Chain of Accusations It was during these interrogations at Read Hall that the accusations began to spiral: • Alizon confessed to “ill-wishing” John Law. • Further questioning led her to implicate other members of her family, including her grandmother Elizabeth Southerns (Old Demdike). • She also accused her family’s rival matriarch, Anne Whittle (Old Chattox). These confessions — often coerced — laid the foundation for the subsequent arrests and trials. Committal to Lancaster Following the Read Hall investigations, Nowell committed Alizon, Demdike, Chattox, and others to Lancaster Castle prison for trial.
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