Categories: Marilyns of England | Mountains and hills of North West England | Lancashire coast and countryside

Pendle Hill

Pendle Hill (summit 557m above mean sea level) is located in the north-east of Lancashire, England, near the towns of Burnley, Nelson and Clitheroe. It gives its name to the Borough of Pendle. It is an isolated hill, seperated from the Pennines to the northwest and the Forest of Bowland to the north. It lies to the southwest of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

In Geological terms, the hill consists of an ancient plateau of millstone grit, over softer shales, on an underlying limestone bed. The historic decomposition of sphagnum moss on the hill has led to it being covered in peat.

A Bronze Age burial site has been discovered at the summit of the hill.

It is famous for its links to two events which took place in the 17th century: the Pendle Witches and the claimed visitation to George Fox, leading to the foundation of the Quaker movement.

The Pendle Witches

The story of the Pendle Witches is the most known example of alleged witchcraft in English history. The hill continues to be associated with witchcraft, and every Halloween large numbers of visitors climb it.

The Quakers and Pendle Hill

In 1652, George Fox claimed to have had a vision while on top of Pendle, which led to him founding the Quaker religion. Today, the name Pendle remains strongly linked with the Quakers, giving its name to their centre of learning in the USA.

As we traveled, we came near a very great hill, called Pendle Hill, and I was moved of the Lord to go up to the top of it; which I did with difficulty, it was so very steep and high. When I was come to the top, I saw the sea bordering upon Lancashire. From the top of this hill the Lord let me see in what places he had a great people to be gathered.

George Fox - An Autobiography, Chapter 6

External Links

The Quakers & Pendle Hill links

Categories: Marilyns of England | Mountains and hills of North West England | Lancashire coast and countryside