300ft work of art for Pendle Hill

Culture Posted on 22/08/2012

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Pendle Hill has been adorned, if only for a very brief time, with a 300ft work of art to commemorate the 400 year anniversary of the Lancashire witches.

Lancashire-born artist, Philippe Handford, chose the local beauty spot of Pendle Hill to map out the four huge numbers, 1612, the year that eight women and two men were hung at Lancaster Castle for witchcraft. The numbers have been made using frost protection material, and are only meant to last until 22 August, after which the remains will be removed.

To mark the 400 year anniversary, over 450 people dressed up as witches and wizards to launch the opening of the artwork and a witch trail which runs from Pendle Hill to the nearby town of Lancaster. Stops along the way include Pendle Heritage Centre - an exhibition on the witches themselves and the history of the area - and Lancaster Castle, where those accused of witchcraft were brought to be hanged.

The artwork and trail are both part of the Pendle Witches Festival, which has been running since March and ends on 22 October. There are a wide range of guided walks on offer around the area throughout August, and visitors are able to choose an easy stroll or a more difficult hike into the hills. More information is available from the Visit Lancashire website.

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