The trials of the Pendle witches in 1612 are among the most famous witch trials in English history, and some of the best recorded of the 17th century. The twelve accused lived in the area around Pendle Hill in Lancashire, and were charged with the murders of ten people by the use of witchcraft. All but two were tried at Lancaster Assizes on 18–19 August 1612, along with the Samlesbury witches and others, in a series of trials that have become known as the Lancashire witch trials. One was tried at York Assizes on 27 July 1612, and another died in prison. Of the eleven individuals who went to trial—nine women and two men—ten were found guilty and executed by hanging; one was found not guilty.
The trials were unusual for England at that time in two respects: the official publication of the proceedings by the clerk to the court, Thomas Potts, in his The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster, and in the number of witches hanged together: ten at Lancaster and one at York. It has been estimated that all of the English witch trials between the early 15th and early 18th centuries resulted in fewer than 500 executions, so this series of trials during the summer of 1612 accounts for more than 2 per cent of that total.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendle_witch_trials
I found it interesting that somebody has updated the entry with this latest find:
<snip>
Malkin Tower is believed to have been near the village of Newchurch in Pendle,[29] on the site of present-day Malkin Tower Farm,[30] and to have been demolished soon after the trials.[29] However, in December 2011 it was announced that water engineers had unearthed a 17th-century cottage complete with a mummified cat sealed in the walls, close to Lower Black Moss reservoir. Local historians have speculated that it might be the lost Malkin Tower.
= new reply since forum marked as read
