A Lancashire Tale
Now had you stood upon the hill the next day, you would have seen a ghostly white veil. So whether it’s the snow or cloud or even cotton grass, you had best not go upon Pendle hill when the veil is present. For the wind may sigh and the hill might answer:
Footnote:
On occasions I travel past Pendle Hill with it sad history, today’s offering is a snippet from a longer piece about the witches of Pendle .
This Post Has 65 Comments
Lovely slow-cooked words
The middle section of this post which I had to cut out to stay within the word count, was in part about the culinary delights of the plant life of Pendle Hill, so I really appreciated your comment of ‘lovely slow-cooked words’ thank you Neil.
Wonderfully atmospheric piece, Michael, I love it.
In the photo, is your head upside down?
Sometimes it would be appropriate for my head to be upside down as there is more hair on my chin than on my bonnet.
Dear Michael,
Simply lovely. The last line so poetic..
Shalom
Rochelle
This is such a welcome comment from a fine writer like yourself, thank you Rochelle,
Beautiful, Michael. Very poetic and melancholic.
That’s is due to Pendle Hill undoubtedly. Thank you Varad
That last line is wonderful – it’s all wonderful. Sinister and beautiful.
Thank you Claire, so pleased to read your comment. Mike
Intriguing read.
So pleased to read your comment, Thank you yarnspinnerr.
This draws me in like the fragrance from a fresh pot of coffee.
What a lovely comment, thank you granonine.
Note to self – avoid Pendle Hill. Atmospheric piece Michael, well done.
Thank you Iain. No need to avoid; but check the weather forecast, and carry a packet of Kendal Mint Cake.
Pendle Hill was a familiar haunt for me (excuse the pun). You caught the mood and atmosphere of the place beautifully. Well done.
Loved the pun, and so pleased that you found Pendle Hill beautiful. I drive past the hill regularly on my way to the Lancashire coast.
I don’t have time to research Pendle Hill at the moment but it sounds like an interesting ghost story.
Thank you James, Pendle Hill stands proud and beautiful on my regular routes around the area in which I live. Despite my story I don’t find it ghostly.
A haunting story.
Thank you Liz, despite my story I don’t find Pendle Hill ghostly, but it is beautiful and intriguing
Touching.
I will be scared to spot one:)
Thank you Antita. Pendle Hill can be quite a moody place, but can be quite beautiful also.
You present an ominous feel to the hill and yet the thought of taking a walk there is strangely compelling. An intriguing story, Michael. I very much enjoyed it.
Thank you Edith. At times Pendle Hill can appear ominous, yet it can also be beautiful. And sometimes intriguing. I am so pleased you enjoyed my abbreviated story. To stay within the word limit I cut out all the references to the culinary and medical history of the hill.
That’s very atmospheric. Eerie.
Thank you Sarah, Pendle Hill does have its own distinctive climate. Until quite recent times it could be quite wild and untamed.
Some places retain an atmosphere after horrific events, don’t they? You’ve skilfully captured that feeling with your words.
It does seem so, I might cause your toes to curl up with a couple of events that I witness. Darn it. I now have another paragraph to write and insert in my memoirs.
I must echo everyone’s comments with a very lovely, atmospheric piece, Michael.
Thank you so much Dale.
Your story makes me wan to know more about this Peddle Hill. I love horror stories
Thank you Susan. There is a bitter cold wind over Pendle Hill tonight.
as mr. trump would say, it was a witch hunt.
cheers.
In that case he would be right. I am glad that I am not a politician, as I just would not know where to start putting things to right.
The last sentence is simply perfect. Briliant Michael.
Thank you Keith, you are right about February, the snow drops are in full bloom and many a daffodil has been fooled into blooming. Yet a bitter cold wind blasts across Pendle Hill tonight.
Daffofils give false hope. I just shivered.
Thank you Keith, I am almost house bound with a heavy cold, and frustrated as wordpress will not allow me to like or comment on stories.
Excellent atmosphere yiu created there Michael.
Then my job is done, Thank you so much.
You live in such a beautiful part of the world, MIchael. I Googled Pendle Hill and was fascinated by the witch trial held there. Do you know if they found an explanation for what happened? I’ve heard that ergot poisoning has been attributed for some cases of so-called witchcraft such as the Salem Trials. Thought you might be interested in this article Google dug up for me: https://io9.gizmodo.com/this-fungus-was-a-medieval-mass-murderer-1711876237
Best wishes,
Rowena
Hi Rowena, thank you for the link, I had had completely forgotten about ergot poisoning. As for the Pendle witch trial, at the time I think there was very much hysteria centred around witches. Tonight there is a bitter cold wind over Pendle.
Michael, I’m a bit concerned about that cold wind over Pendle tonight. Sounds like those ghosts are up to no good again!
I took a course called “Crime & Deviance” when I studied history at Sydney University. Witchcraft was one of the topics we looked at and that’s how I found out about the ergot poisoning.
In Australia we are experiencing a different type of hysteria at the moment and a different witch hunt. Don’t know whether you heard that our Deputy Prime Minister left his wife and four kids to get involved with a staffer who is now about to give birth. He is surviving by the skin of his teeth atm.
Personally, I can’t understand why people are getting so upset about it. When it comes to looking for role models, I put politicians in the same camp as footballers and don’t expect much at all. Well, not much good anyway. Indeed, it’s a bit hard to find any particular profession that you can trust. That said, I’ll run with nurses. My experience with teachers has also been great, but they’re not infallible either.
xx Rowena
Hi Rowena, it seems that James the First, became fixated on witch craft, he wrote a book called Daemonologie, which ended up encouraging people to hunt for witches. And gave Pendle Hill a legacy. I am almost house bound at the moment with a heavy cold, and frustrated as word press will not allow me to like or comment on stories.
Sorry to hear about your nasty cold, Michael. I get housebound for periods of time and I don’t count obligatory school drop offs and pickups as really getting out either. That is criminal for WordPress to play up when you’re stuck at home with a cold. It should have some sort of empathy, compassion and be there for you. Hope you start feeling better soon and thanks for that snippet about James I. I think he was the one who wrote the King James version of the Bible, wasn’t he?
Take care!
Best wishes,
Rowena
Thank you Rowena, King James I, did indeed sponsor a version of the Bible in English. Not feeling well enough to going outside is frustrating. What I would give for a warm sunny day and beach sand between my toes. Still I can at least write a few more snippets for my memoirs.
That’s a wonderful piece Michael. Loved the last line. Thanks to you, I just got to know about Pendle Hill. Seems like there could be a lot of stories to tell apart from the one that google has to offer.
Click to read: https://normashilpi.wordpress.com/2018/02/11/a-story-to-tell/
Thanks,
Norma.
Thank you Norma. I do see potential stories all around the Pendle area. Like “a story to tell” it is down to destiny and the prompt pictures, whether they get written.
A fascinating piece of British history, the Pendle witches and you did the subject proud with your atmospheric story Michael
Thank you Lynn, If I work hard, there are a multitude of stories to be found around Pendle Hill,
How very true! A thoroughly inspiring place
Michael, I think this might be one of your best stories. So much atmosphere and a bit of longing, too.
Thank you Alicia, the area around Pendle Hill is full of atmosphere,
Love the atmosphere in your story as everyone else does.
Thank you Bjorn, I am almost house bound with a heavy cold, and frustrated as wordpress will not allow me to like or comment on stories.
Achingly beautiful! We often do trespass on nature!
Thank you so much for such a lovely comment, I am almost house bound with a heavy cold, and frustrated as word press will not allow me to like or comment on stories.
A cold does stifle things. Pray you are better.
Thank you!
I do not like being forced to stay at home, but so be it. Thanking you for your kind words
Hi Michael! This is my first time on your blog and I loved what I read. I so want to go and check out the plac yet I am scared to go there…at least not on my own for sure and definitely not when it´s dark. Looking forward to your next! Cheers 🙂
Thank you Tina. Pendle is definately a place best enjoyed when in company.
Thank you, Michael! I will surely keep that in mind whenever I go there 🙂