Eastern State Penitentiary: A Journey Through History and Hauntings

Introduction

Eastern State Penitentiary, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of the most iconic historical landmarks in the United States. It was once a revolutionary model for prison reform, but today this hauntingly beautiful structure serves as a museum and a chilling reminder of the past. It is known for innovative architecture, notable inmates, and ghostly legends. Eastern State Penitentiary is an intriguing blend of history and the supernatural. With its reputation as one of the most haunted places in America, the penitentiary continues to attract historians, paranormal enthusiasts, and average curious tourists alike.

The Historical Significance of Eastern State Penitentiary

The Birth of a Revolutionary Prison

The inception of Eastern State Penitentiary in 1829 marked a turning point in the history of criminal justice and prison reform. The prison was designed by the renowned British architect John Haviland. His vision was to create a facility that would reform rather than punish. Eastern State was built as the embodiment of the Pennsylvania System. This was at the time a radical approach to incarceration that emphasized solitary confinement as a method of rehabilitation.

The idea of the Pennsylvania System was to isolate prisoners, forcing them into deep reflection and repentance. The cells were designed to prevent any interaction between inmates, with a single skylight—referred to as the “Eye of God”—providing light from above. The belief was that this solitary experience would encourage moral reform, helping prisoners find redemption through isolation and self-examination. This theory and philosophical approach to incarceration made Eastern State Penitentiary a model for more than 300 prisons around the world.

Notable Inmates and Events

Throughout its operational years, Eastern State Penitentiary housed some of the most notorious criminals of its time. Perhaps the most famous of these inmates was Al Capone, the infamous Chicago mob boss. Capone was held at Eastern State in 1929, serving a sentence for carrying a concealed weapon. According to prison records, Capone enjoyed more luxuries than other inmates, including fine furniture, a desk, and even a radio in his lavishly furnished cell.

Another infamous inmate was bank robber Willie Sutton, who became widely known for his multiple escape attempts. His most famous escape occurred in 1945 when he and several other inmates successfully tunneled out of the prison. Although they were eventually caught, Sutton’s escapades contributed to the penitentiary’s legend.

In addition to notorious criminals, the prison witnessed some key historical events, including riots and escapes that captured national attention. Each inmate and incident added another layer to the prison’s already complex history.

Decline and Closure

The solitary confinement system began to lose favor in the late 19th century. Critics argued it caused severe psychological damage to inmates. Without the philosophical motivation for isolation and with a constant lack of adequate prisons the the institution gradually moved away from complete isolation. The penitentiary continued to operate as a normal prison with shared cells and interaction between the incarcerated, but by the mid-20th century, it had become outdated and overcrowded.

So, in 1971, Eastern State Penitentiary officially closed its doors, ending over 140 years of operation. After its closure, the prison fell into decay, with nature overtaking many of the once-imposing structures. In 1994, the site was reopened as a museum and historic site, allowing the public to explore its haunting corridors and learn about its storied past.

Fascinating Facts About Eastern State Penitentiary

Architectural Marvels

Eastern State Penitentiary was not only revolutionary for its approach to incarceration but also for its architectural innovations. The prison boasted several advanced features for its time, including running water and central heating—amenities that were installed even before the White House had them. The facility was designed with a unique “wagon wheel” or radial floor plan, with cellblocks radiating from a central hub. This design allowed guards to monitor all areas of the prison from a single vantage point, a feature that influenced the construction of countless prisons around the world.

The imposing Gothic architecture of Eastern State Penitentiary, with its fortress-like walls and towering guard towers, added to its intimidating presence. The design was intended not only to house prisoners but also to serve as a symbol of authority and control, reminding both inmates and the public of the power of the state.

Cultural Impact

Eastern State’s architectural and philosophical approach to incarceration inspired the construction of prisons worldwide, from Europe to Latin America and Asia. During its early years, the penitentiary attracted the attention of prominent figures. The British writer Charles Dickens and French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville both visited the prison to observe the controversial Pennsylvania System firsthand.

Dickens, however, was highly critical of the solitary confinement method. After his visit in 1842, he wrote in his book American Notes that isolation was a form of torture, and he expressed deep concern for the mental health of the prisoners. But Eastern State still became the standard for penal institutions globally, marking its profound impact on criminal justice reform. Maybe more so for its design than for its isolation philosophy.

Hauntings and Ghost Stories

The Haunted Reputation

Eastern State Penitentiary is as famous for its ghost stories as it is for its historical significance. With its dark past, marked by isolation, suffering, and even death, it is no wonder that the prison has earned a reputation as one of the most haunted locations in America. Visitors and staff have reported numerous paranormal occurrences, from shadowy figures and eerie whispers to full-bodied apparitions.

One of the most famous ghost stories involves Al Capone. During his imprisonment, Capone reportedly claimed to be haunted by the ghost of James Clark, one of the victims of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, a crime attributed to Capone’s gang. According to reports, Capone was often heard crying out for forgiveness in the middle of the night, tormented by the specter of Clark in his cell.

Paranormal Investigations

Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia has become a hotspot for paranormal investigators, including popular television shows like Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures. These teams have conducted multiple investigations within the prison’s walls, often capturing unexplained phenomena on camera or audio devices. The most frequently reported paranormal activity (not surprisingly…) includes sudden drops in temperature, strange sounds, and sightings of shadowy figures moving through the corridors.

Some visitors have reported feeling an overwhelming sense of dread while exploring certain areas of the prison, particularly around Death Row and Cellblock 12, both of which are said to be hotbeds of paranormal activity. Even staff members working during the day have shared stories of inexplicable encounters, further adding to the penitentiary’s eerie reputation.

The Science Behind the Hauntings

The prison’s architecture, with its dark, narrow corridors and isolated cells, creates a claustrophobic atmosphere that can heighten feelings of fear and anxiety. Some psychologists suggest that these feelings, combined with the prison’s grim history, may lead visitors to perceive ghostly occurrences where none exist.

In addition, the dilapidated state of the prison, with crumbling walls and creaking floors, can produce unsettling sounds that may be mistaken for paranormal activity. The power of suggestion also plays a significant role; visitors who arrive expecting to encounter ghosts may be more likely to interpret ordinary events as supernatural.

Unfortunately, the episodes by the famous ghost-hunting TV channels are stuffed with the usual paranormal exploration tricks. That includes flickering lights, blurred video shots with terrible lighting, and the ever-present EVPs from which you really cannot make out anything. The dark halls, and the very long corridors where you can’t see to the far end, are perfect settings for shooting ghost videos.

Visiting Eastern State Penitentiary Today

Tours and Exhibits

Today, Eastern State Penitentiary is a popular tourist destination, offering a range of tours that explore its rich history and haunted legacy. Daytime tours are available year-round, allowing visitors to walk through the crumbling cellblocks and learn about the prison’s history through interactive exhibits. One of the most popular attractions is Al Capone’s cell, which has been restored to resemble how it appeared during his stay.

For those interested in the paranormal side of the penitentiary, nighttime tours are also available. These tours focus on the ghost stories and paranormal activity reported over the years, giving visitors a chance to experience the eerie atmosphere of the prison after dark.

Special Events

In addition to regular tours, Eastern State Penitentiary hosts several special events throughout the year. One of the most popular is the annual Halloween Nights, a month-long event that transforms the prison into a massive haunted house. This event draws thousands of visitors each year and features a mix of historically inspired and fictional haunted attractions.

The penitentiary also offers educational programs and historical reenactments, helping visitors understand the broader context of prison reform and the penal system. These events aim to educate the public about the history of incarceration while preserving the legacy of Eastern State as a site of historical importance.

Conclusion

Eastern State Penitentiary stands as a monument to the evolution of the criminal justice system, reflecting a kind of contradiction. On the one side, the hopes of reformers, and on the other, the brutal realities of incarceration. Its architectural innovations and solitary confinement model shaped prison design around the world, leaving a lasting impact on the penal system.

Whether you are drawn to its rich history or its eerie hauntings, Eastern State Penitentiary offers a captivating journey through time, where the past and the paranormal converge in hauntingly unforgettable ways.

Bodie the ghost town.

Nestled amidst the majestic mountains of California lies Bodie, the legendary ghost town steeped in history and intrigue. With its crumbling facades and abandoned buildings, Bodie is a testament to the fleeting nature of man’s dreams and aspirations. A ghost town that once bustled with activity during the gold-mining era of the 1800s, Bodie now draws visitors from around the world who come to explore its mysteries and unearth its secrets.

A short background to Bodie’s fame.

The history of Bodie reads like a thrilling novel, with twists and turns at every corner. Gold was discovered in 1859 and after that, Bodie quickly grew into a thriving metropolis that at its peak boasted a population of over 10,000. With its bustling streets and bustling businesses, Bodie was a beacon of prosperity and opportunity.

However, fame and glory would be short-lived. As the gold began to run dry, the population dwindled. By the beginning of 1900, Bodie was on the brink of collapse, and many of its buildings were left to the elements. But just as the town seemed destined to fade into obscurity, fate intervened, and Bodie was reborn as a State Historic Park in 1961. Today, Bodie stands as a testament to the tenacity and resilience of the human spirit, a haunting reminder of a bygone era that still captivates the imagination.

Paranormal activity in Bodie

Reports of ghosts in Bodie

The town of Bodie has long been renowned for its chilling paranormal activity, with countless reports of ghostly sightings permeating its eerie atmosphere. Visitors to the ghost town often report an unsettling presence, the faint echo of mysterious noises, and apparitions of a seemingly supernatural origin.

Visitors have claimed to have seen the ghost of a little girl in the old schoolhouse. There have been reports of the apparition of a woman in a white dress walking about at the cemetery. Some have felt cold spots, sudden gusts of wind, and other spectral sensations, despite the stillness of the surrounding air.

Haunted locations in Bodie

Numerous locations in Bodie are believed to be haunted, with the town’s cemetery being a hotspot of spectral activity. The cemetery is said to house the spirit of a man buried alive and the ghosts of several children who succumbed to a diphtheria outbreak.

The old schoolhouse is also reputed to be a hub of ghostly activity, with visitors reporting inexplicable noises and sightings of mysterious apparitions. The Dechambeau Hotel, a popular haunt for ghost hunters, has been associated with spectral voices and inexplicable footsteps, with guests claiming to have encountered unexplained phenomena during their stays.

Theories on why Bodie is haunted

Several theories exist to explain Bodie is haunted, with some speculating that the town’s violent past has imbued it with a metaphysical residue that continues to pervade the town. There are speculations that the spirits of those who perished during the town’s heyday still wander the streets, searching for a means to ascend to the afterlife.

Still, others believe that the gold that originally drew people to Bodie may have an esoteric energy that has imbued the town with an otherworldly presence. Ore that the town’s location on the fringe of a vast, untamed wilderness has attracted ghosts and paranormal activity, making uneasy presences approach from far and wide.

We don’t know the reason but Bodie’s reputation as a haunted destination has only grown over time. More and more curious visitors come from all corners of the globe, eager to explore its eerie and enigmatic past.

Ghost sightings in Bodie

Popular ghost stories from Bodie

Bodie the ghost town has many stories to tell. Among the most popular is the tale of the “little girl of Bodie,” a spectral child who is said to haunt the town’s schoolhouse. Visitors claim to have seen her apparition drifting through the halls, accompanied by the sound of her spectral laughter.

Another chilling tale is that of the “hanging tree,” a gnarled old tree located near the town’s cemetery, said to have been the site of many lynchings during Bodie’s heyday. Visitors claim to have seen the ghosts of the unfortunate souls who perished there, still hanging from its twisted branches.

Photos and videos from Bodie the ghost town

Visitors to Bodie have captured photographic and video evidence of ghostly apparitions, lending further credence to the town’s reputation as a hotbed of paranormal activity. Photos and videos of spectral figures moving through the streets, mysterious orbs, and unexplained phenomena continue to circulate on social media and the internet, fueling the town’s eerie reputation and drawing in curious visitors from all corners of the globe.

Strange appearances in Bodie

Paranormal investigations and their conclusions

Over the years, many paranormal investigators and ghost hunters have come to Bodie. Unfortunately, we don’t have any official, professional reports. The stories are mostly of private character, Youtubers shooting video footage during opening hours in the daytime. We have some of the normal scraping EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena), occasional touching, temperature drops, and other inexplicable movements of objects. Nothing decisive. The conclusions have been varied and inconclusive.

Experts on ghosts and what they say

Some experts on the paranormal have weighed in on the phenomena in Bodie, offering their own unique perspectives on the town’s haunting reputation. It is possible though that the town’s violent past, with its many lynchings and shootouts, has made Bodie a perfect target for unverified ghost stories.

There is also the town’s isolated location and harsh climate to consider. It could be suggested that these factors may have contributed to the high levels of paranormal reports in Bodie.

The legend about the curse of the stolen objects of Bodie.

There is an old legend regarding Bodie. It is believed that if anyone takes something away from Bodie, they will suffer from a string of misfortunes until they return the artifact. Every day the Bodie State Historic Park receives letters and packages of stolen items with letters attached asking them to take them back.

– Please take back this rock. After stealing it, I’ve never suffered such bad luck in my life.

In past years, many visitors used to steal souvenirs from the town. That resulted in a massive loss of historical artifacts. One day a park ranger evidently came up with a solution. He simply invented the idea of the curse and started spreading it. And it worked.

After some time, the park started receiving letters and packages containing stolen items with pleas to lift the curse. And possibly the fake legend will prevent new thefts because returning an old artifact doesn’t really solve the problem. Once the item is back in Bodie, it is out of its context. And it’s often not an easy task to understand from where it was taken. The risk is that it remains in a box in a warehouse forever.

Other documentation of interest

“Ghosts of Bodie” – a book by author Margie Kay, exploring the town’s supernatural phenomena

“Bodie: The Town That Belongs to Ghosts” – an article published in the LA Times, examining the history and paranormal activity of Bodie

And of course an abundance of video documentaries, but unfortunately, none are very convincing.

Is Bodie haunted or not?

Walking through the deserted streets of Bodie is a surreal experience. The abandoned buildings stand as silent witnesses to a violent past, and the atmosphere is heavy with the weight of history. The site is awesome and any sound or wind blowing across the empty streets just increases the eerie feeling

Having said that, it’s not a paranormal spot. I can’t find anything pointing to Bodie being more than just an awesome old abandoned town… A historical document, a doorway to a violent past, and a reminiscence of the men and women who built the new world.

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• Bodie is located in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains of California, about 75 miles southeast of Lake Tahoe.
• Take Highway 395 to State Route 270, which leads directly to the park entrance.
• The park is open year-round, but hours vary by season.
• March – October, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
• November – February, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
• The park is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
• Admission is $8 per person for visitors 18 years of age and older.
• Visitors 4 – 17 years of age: $5
• Under the age of 4 entrance is free of charge.
• Visitors can purchase tickets at the park entrance.
• Visitors are also reminded to not take any artifacts or souvenirs from the park, as it is illegal and can result in fines or prosecution. You may also be subject to the Curse of Bodie…

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Poveglia… A story about the Black Death, and sadistic scientists. But are the atrocities true? Is Poveglia a few miles outside Venice, Italy, the most haunted place on earth?

Poveglia Island.

Just a few miles south of Venice, Italy, inside the lagoon, there’s a solitaire triangle-shaped island. It is one of many deserted islands around Venice… Islands that once were flourishing with people, livestock, houses, and squares, but which now are home to rabbits and seabirds. 

Poveglia is different only through its name. While names like  Madonna del Monte or Isola Campalto slumber away in the shallow waters, Poveglia has become famous all over the world. And its fame is intimately connected to paranormal activity. 

Poveglia – Known from TV.

In 2000, The Fox Family created a series called The Scariest Places on Earth. The idea was to let an ordinary, or reasonably ordinary family, travel to haunted and scary places, and document their experiences. Episode nr. 23 is called The Island of no Return and the destination was obviously Poveglia. The episode aired on August 19, 2001, with a follow-up on August 24, 2001. 

The style was innovative, and the series was a success. It continues for five seasons 2000-2002, and 2005-2006. In the Poveglia episodes, the history behind the hauntings is thoroughly explained. And this is how it goes:

The Plague

The Bubonic Plague hit Venice more than 60 times from 1348 until late 1700. Every time it brought sufferings beyond our imagination. On occasions the effective Venetian quarantine system could block it before it became explosive, but other times that was not the case. 

1348, 1423, 1575, and 1630 stand out as years when the epidemic killed between a third and half of the city’s population. The other waves of disease, around 60 in 450 years were less disastrous thanks to an effective quarantine. The word quarantine derives from the Italian word for 40, quaranta, and it determines the number of days persons and goods had to wait before entering the city.

Still, in times of pestilence the two quarantine-islands, Lazaretto Nuovo, and Lazaretto Vecchio, weren’t enough. And that’s where Poveglia comes in, at least according to Fox Family. Those who were most severely ill were shipped to Poveglia. But the island wasn’t really a hospital. It was just a place for people to die. They were dropped off and that was that.

In the program, it’s stated that in some parts of Poveglia Island, as much as 50% of the soil consists of ashes from burnt human bodies.

The mental institution 

But the horrors do not finish there. In 1922, after being abandoned for many years, an asylum was built. New ideologies were at hand and a brand new leadership. The Fascist state needed places to put away the mentally ill. 

However, at some point in the 20s, a particularly dogmatic, and eager fascistic professor became chief physician on the island. In those days lobotomy was thought of as a normal and efficient therapy for mentally ill patients. And as they didn’t really have any anesthetics, and the patients were mad anyway… 

It is said that the screams from Poveglia could be heard to the Lido island and even all the way to Venice on calm summer nights. 

The doctor died in 1942 and that too is a disturbing story. All through the 20s and the 30s patients and personnel had been complaining about strange lights, shadows, and voices around and inside the buildings. But nothing was ever investigated or done to prevent such a phenomenon. In 1942 the doctor finally snapped. He ran through the rooms and out in the open as if he was possessed, Screaming in fear he rushed to the old bell tower, up the stairs, and threw himself out the window. 

Somebody said that he didn’t die on impact, but a fog rose from the trees behind the building, closed in to cover his body, and choked him to death.

The final years of Poveglia – the haunted island.

After the war, the island was made unreachable. Poveglia became strictly forbidden and illegal. You can’t reach it without bribing some courageous taxi driver or having your own boat. And you would still risk a heavy fine.

The locals don’t go there anyway, it’s too risky. Screams, and cries for help are still heard from the dark ruins… And it’s said that fishermen, still catch human bones in their nets if they try their luck too close to the shores of the scariest place on earth… Poveglia.

Poveglia after Fox Family.

For 20 years there has been a steady flow of mostly young people, YouTubers, and non, going to Venice just to experience one of the scariest places in the world. Just search YouTube for Poveglia, and you’ll have a vast choice. 

Unlike many other haunted locations, the tourist industry of Venice doesn’t depend in any way on ghost-related tourism. Venice is already a huge tourist magnet as it is. And as Poveglia doesn’t offer anything by itself, there’s no money in it for anybody… Maybe except for the Taxi driver who will take you there. That fact alone could actually indicate real paranormal activity on Poveglia Island… Real supernatural sightings.

But it doesn’t, it doesn’t prove anything. And the reason is simply that all I’ve told you so far, all that The Scariest Places on Earth claims, and all that’s said in all of the other videos out there… Well, it’s simply not true.

How to do a TV show.

The problem was that Fox channel did a TV show, nothing else. They put in footage and info to make an interesting program. The The Scariest Places on Earth series was even involved in a few controversies regarding paid actors, and falsified information. The way I see it, they were doing good broadcasting… A show. It wasn’t the news, it wasn’t a documentary… It was a TV show.

But somehow, their statements became common knowledge, and then somehow they became actual facts.

Seven years after Fox Family, Travel Channel created their own version of reality-supernatural-TV: Ghost Adventures. The layout was the same and in 2009 they too visited Poveglia. And the same story about the Plague victims and the mad doctor was told. Their program was even aired on Friday the 13th of November 2009, to make the most of the ghostly feeling.

So, what is the truth behind it all?

The true truth is that Poveglia never was a Plague island. And it never was a real hospital. In late 1700, Venice’s two hospital islands Lazaretto Vecchio and Lazaretto Nuovo, were old and they had suffered flooding (Not unusual in Venice…). So the city council discussed building a brand new facility on Poveglia. The plans were only carried out partially and only from 1814, though.

When the very last plague-infected ships came to Venice in 1793 and 1799, they were sent to Poveglia Island. 12 sailors died. We even have their names, and we know where they were buried.

In early 1800 it continued hosting arriving ships and sailors. But at this time the Bubonic Plague was over in Venice. It played an important role in the 1831-1837 cholera pandemic. And victims were buried in the new cemetery on the island. 

And there was no asylum. There was a geriatric clinic. Venice at the beginning of 1900 was still a big city, with a large population. And it seemed like an excellent idea to offer green and healthy surroundings for the elderly of the crowded city. Poveglia was the perfect place and work began to prepare it with good living conditions. 

When doing so, they built a psychiatric clinic to treat any mental illness. That very sign on the wall, probably inspired someone to invent the story about the mad doctor. We cannot say anything for sure about the treatment of the patients there and then, We just don’t know. We don’t even know the name of the chief Physician.

The 20s and 30s were full of nationalistic ideologies and ideas about the purification of races. Surely the way they looked at psychological problems, and general treatment of the sick and elderly, was very different from what we think today. But the geriatric clinic at Poveglia was like any other geriatric clinic during that time… No more no less. 

It closed in 1968. And that’s when the last inhabitant left the island.

What do the locals say?

Well, the locals don’t say much at all. At the most, they raise their eyebrows and ask:

  –  What? Which island is infested by ghosts and phantoms, did you say? 

Because in Venice, nobody would dream of regarding Poveglia as haunted. There are other islands, and other places, even inside of Venice that are much more disturbing. Poveglia is just a calm, deserted piece of land where the Venetians sometimes go Sunday afternoons to have a picnic under the fruit trees.

And what about the scientists… What do they say?

CICAP, Comitato italiano per il controllo delle affermazioni sulle pseudoscienze (Italian Committee for the Control of Pseudoscientific claims), are astonished. One should be aware, that this is a more skeptical association than many other national societies investigating paranormal activity. But they are quite baffled by the interest that Poveglia suddenly has developed, mostly in the US. To them, Poveglia isn’t even worth investigating.

To conclude in the same line of reasoning. Poveglia isn’t haunted, and it isn’t very scary, more than the possible threat of falling roof tiles. There’s just nothing there. The buildings are falling apart, nature is reconquering what man has made, and the rabbits are multiplying rapidly. 

The island does have a very interesting history, though, A history of wealth from trading, wars, political intrigues, and exile in Venice. But in that history, there aren’t any thousands of dying plague victims, and there is no mad doctor. 

It’s just another island in the Venice lagoon.

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sources

• Venipedia / La Peste
• CICAP / Poveglia, L’Isola più infestata del mondo
• Wikipedia / Scariest places on earth
• Ranker / Inside The Secret Italian Island Where Black Plague Sufferers Were Taken To Die
• Davide Busato-True Crime / La vera storia dell’isola maledetta di Poveglia
• Wikipedia / Poveglia

Is Pendle Hill, Lancashire, one of Britain’s most haunted sites?

Pendle Hill

Is Pendle Hill haunted? No, it’s propaply not. There have been sightings but none are such that we can exclude explanations other than supernatural causation. Speaking about hauntings and ghosts and such always comes down to what you want to believe. In this article, I will lay out some of the historical facts and how they relate to the very few anecdotal evidence that exist around Pendle Hill.

The background to the Witch trials

On a cold spring morning in the year 1612, a pedlar was walking on the road from Colne to Trawden Forest. This particular road is in England, Lancashire, some 20 miles west of Leeds. Back in the 1600s, this was a poor and dangerous part of the country, with bandits and thieves never too far away. The pedlar surely was watching his steps carefully as he wandered on with his merchandise on his back.

At a certain point, he spotted a young woman, dressed in ragged clothes, and with a friendly but soiled face. But John Law, as the pedlar’s Christian name was, didn’t slow down his pace. The girl asked him for some pins, but John still didn’t take any notice of her.

The curse that led up to the Pendle Witch trials.

We cannot say for sure how the two person’s interaction was. Maybe John was offensive, or maybe he was just a bit too friendly. Maybe the young woman was too perky and forward, or maybe she did try to steal the pins after all. What we do know though, is that the outcome of that meeting was to become one of the most famous witch trials in the history of Britain. And 8 women and 2 men would be executed by hanging before the year had ended.

The woman threw a curse at John, and he fell to the ground. He managed to stagger to an Inn close by, and there he lay down. 

Alizon Device

This is the name of the cursing woman and the reason why we know that she cursed John in the first place, is because she confessed. As soon as she got news of the pedlar’s condition, she was overwhelmed with remorse. She came to visit John, to beg him for forgiveness. And there the story could have ended. 

But fate wouldn’t have such a simple conclusion. 

John’s son, Abraham, denounced the occurrence to the newly appointed local magistrate, Roger Nowell. This was a very ambitious, and zealous clerk, and he immediately summoned Alizon, her mother Elizabeth, and her brother James. And anybody who knows anything about the methods that were used to obtain confessions from witches during the witch-hunts in Europe knows where we are going from here. 

The bad timing for the witches of Pendle Hill.

Three circumstances are important.

1. King James l was an eager witch-hunter. He strongly promoted hunting down enemies of the church, and he had written the famous witch-hunting-tutorial Daemonologie a few years earlier.
2. With the reign of King James, after decades of conflicts, the protestants had finally defeated the Catholic church in Britain. At least at a political level. And Catholics were regarded as suspiciously close to witchcraft already because of their strange and dark rites. The territory around Pendle Hill had many prominent Catholic families.
3. We already talked about Roger Nowell. His role in this story was probably decisive. 

The Trial

So, the accused started throwing testimonies, and allegations around. First on each other and then, when asked, on people outside the family. And that list obviously contained the enemies of the family and others that were particularly disagreeable… Such as Anne Whittle, the matriarch of the Chattox-family, and her daughter Anne Redfern. 

The Chattox were something of competitors to the Device family on the cunning-folk market.

For the poor, going to a doctor, or getting help from a solicitor was out of the question. If something went wrong, be it health-, legal-, or other practical matters, you just had to fix it yourself, or with help from friends and family. If that wasn’t enough, you could turn to someone knowledgeable in herbs, medicine, and spells. These women, because they were almost always women, lived right on the border of what was considered good and legal, and what was thought of as malicious and illegal. And they were the first to be accused of witchcraft. 

11 people were imprisoned in Lancaster Castle. After 4 months in a cold, damp, filthy, and small cell, where all the prisoners shared space, 10 of them were brought in front of the judge. Elizabeth Device’s mother, Elisabeth Southern, also called Demdike, had died in jail. She was 80 at the time.

A 12th indictee, Jennet Preston was prosecuted in York. 

Jennet Device

Roger Nowell had one key witness. The daughter of Elizabeth, and the sister of Alizon and James… Jennet Device. She was 9 years old. When she was put on a table to make her testimony, her mother, Elizabeth, was so furious, that she had to be taken out of the courtroom. 

With a steady voice and without hesitating, she spilled the terrible truth out on all those present at the assize. Her mother was a witch, her grandmother was a witch, and even her siblings were in on it. She sold out her whole family.

Then she went on accusing a whole lot of other people, who had attended a meeting at the Device’s house on Good Friday that same year. All of them dealing with black magic.

Witchcraft and the court hearings.

To a modern reader, having a nine-year-old as a witness can seem dubious. Small children can’t always know what’s right or wrong, and they certainly do not fully understand the consequences of their words. Even in those days, that was a general idea, and small children weren’t normally considered trustworthy enough to be brought into a courtroom.

Daemonologie

But King James had changed all that. In his book Daemonologie, he had declared that, when it comes to fighting witchcraft, any witness is credible… Children, mentally disabled, people with a conflict of interest… In short, anyone. And normal reasoning wasn’t always practiced.

Since witchcraft is a supernatural force, all common sense went out the window.

If the accused had an alibi, then she could have killed him anyway, with a spell, from a distance. If it wasn’t a murder but an accident, then the witch could make it seem that way to not raise suspicion. If someone else had done it, then the witch could have changed form and physical characteristics to resemble that person.

There simply was no way to really get off the hook.

… And so, nine of the ten accused were found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. And it was mostly based on the witness of a nine-year-old.

Alice Nutter 

One person didn’t really fit in. Alice Nutter wasn’t poor, and she wasn’t accomplished in herbs and powerful brews. She didn’t associate with any of the other accused. But she had one suspicious quality… She was Catholic. It is probable that Jennet, or whoever put the words in her mouth, just threw in Alice Nutter as a bonus… That, and the fact that she owned land.

To perform the Catholic mass was a felony compared to high treason. And the King had made it illegal not to attend the Potestantic mass or not to take communion during that mass. Alice Nutter didn’t admit anything and pleaded innocence until the end. She actually didn’t say much at all. Possibly because she couldn’t reveal her and her family’s engagement in the heretical religion. 

The Executions

On the 20th of August 1612, at Gallows Hill, Lancaster, 8 women, and 2 men were hanged by the neck until dead. These were 

• Alizon Device
• Elizabeth Device
• James Device
• Anne Whittle
• Anne Redferne
• Alice Nutter
• Katherine Hewitt
• John Bulcock
• Jane Bulcock
• Isabel Robey

Alice Grey was found not guilty.

• Jennet Preston was executed in York on July 29, 1612.
• Elizabeth Southern (Demdike) died in prison.

So, are these witches still haunting Pendle Hill?

First of all, Pendle Hill is a truly magical place. Its naked, grass-covered slopes and the isolated position would be a perfect background for any paranormal activity, true or invented. And anyone driving the deserted, narrow roads up the hill, or between churchyards and ruins at night, is likely to see all kinds of things, regardless if they’re there or not.

And there have been numerous sightings of ghosts, spirits, strange lights, mists, and even UFOs on and around the hill. 

But are there any documented, verified, really true confirmed encounters with anything that’s not of the normal, everyday world?

First, let’s look at where these encounters are supposed to have taken place…

The most haunted spots are these.

The Malkin Tower, where the Device family lived, was demolished shortly after the trial. Today there are many locations for that building proposed by historians. The only thing we know is that it was on the east or south side of the hill. 

One possible location is here:

Another is here:

Other possibly haunted spots are Faugh’s Quarry, where the old Demdike supposedly met with the devil.

… Or this whole area:

… Or the churchyard of Saint Mary’s church in Newchurch:

Clitheroe Castle:

Possibly because it’s a castle, and those are obvious hot spots when it comes to haunted sites. It is on the other side of the hill though, and the ghosts you find there could be of a different nature and perhaps not connected to the witch trials.

Lancaster Castle:

Lancaster Castle is where Elizabeth Southern aka Demdike died and where all the witches spent four months before trial.

The sightings are not limited to certain buildings or geographic spots, though. People have had strange encounters all over the Pendle area. Even up, on the hill, as far as the summit lights and mists have been observed. 

A few of the many observations…

• Ashley Firth caught this image in the spring of 2019 when walking down the hill. It supposedly was a mist that appeared right in front of her showing one or possibly two faces. It then disappeared rapidly. Read the full article here.

Mists are very common when documenting ghostly phenomena. Very often they have natural origins.

• Christine Hamlett snapped a photo in autumn 2015 at the Saint Mary’s churchyard in Newchurch-in-Pendle. Read the full article here.

• In early autumn 2014, Alan Pickover met with an eerie ghost at Waddow Hall at Waddington, north of Clitheroe. He was monitoring the plume from a chimney stacks a few minutes after midnight when he spotted a huge hooded shadow making its way toward him. Alan retreated to his car and drove off.

… And then came television…

In 2004 the British paranormal reality television series, Most Haunted, came to Pendle. In October they made a three-day live Halloween-special transmission from various locations around the hill, and of course, it was a huge success. So big, in fact, that the series anchor, Yvette Fielding, afterward declared that the episode was one of, if not the most disturbing experiences she had ever had. 

TV-series on the paranormal are generally not a good source of documentation. The technique involves the usual handheld camera moving around too fast to be able to get a good look at what’s going on. And since they always film at night, with the night-vision’s grey/green-ish colors it’s even harder to get any good visual on the images. 

The medium, Derek Acorah, who tragically passed away in January 2020, conveniently used a whole lot of information that was easily accessible from any website or book about the Pendle-witch-trials. Even the most famous names, Elisabeth, and Anne Device, as well as Demdike were used. 

It’s still interesting documentation. Especially the second day.

After that, the sightings peaked.

From 2005 all the way up until 2015, Lancashire had 81 reported encounters of non-explained supernatural phenomena. Of those, no less than 23 were witches, which is 28% of the total. And that’s statistically a very big part. This is in line with the usual effect a TV show of this type has on the frequency of sightings. When a location gets publicity, the reason for that publicity is reinforced. In this case with more witches being seen.

Proof isn’t proof until it’s proven…

But unfortunately, none of these witches cared to leave any sustainable proof of their existence. The photos and videos are open to interpretanìtion, to say the least, and many of the supposed encounters were made by, or in the presence of, people who have a lot to gain from any positive exposure in this field.

In the area around the hill, there are numerous companies offering witch-hikes, ghost-walks, sleep-over, and tours in haunted hotels, and other locations. And much of the tourist sector in the area benefits from the witches even if it’s just indirectly. It’s simply good business.

But good business doesn’t mean it can’t be true. It is still possible that Pendle Hill really is a haunted territory… 

What does the research say?

Research is a big word, and when it comes to paranormal phenomena, the implication often outgrows the topic. Not much science is investigated in researching paranormal activity. I will refer to two British societies.

The SPR – Society for Psychical Research in London, England, has no reliable documentation of paranormal activity in the Pendle Hill area.

The ASSAP – Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena, England, has no reliable documentation of paranormal activity in the Pendle Hill area.

Conclusion

We don’t have very much to go on here. Yes, there are loads of testimonies and flickering lights on greyish out-of-focus filming, but that isn’t convincing. Adding the obvious historical background, and commercial interest in the sightings, I can’t give Pendle Hill a positive verdict. 

It’s a  truly awesome place for anyone who wants to spend some time in the barren countryside of east Lancashire. And the history of the witches is fascinating, as is the Hill itself, and the wonderful villages around it. But when it comes to haunted spots, it’s just not compelling. The witches that were brutally tortured and executed in thousands all over Europe have all the reasons to seek revenge. And the thousands and hundreds of thousands of women who were oppressed, exploited, humiliated, and abused in the centuries that followed, and are so even today, are all entitled to justice… In this world or from the world beyond. 

Demdike, Elizabeth, Anne, and all the others are seemingly quiet, though. What we can do is to let our voices be heard and to speak for them. And to speak for all the other women in this world suffering from persecution and injustice.

I give Pendle Hill one extra star for the documented historical background. As well as Yvette Fielding’s of Most Haunted statement that Pendle Hill is one of the most disturbing experiences in her career. 

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So, what happened to the young Jennet Device?

We don’t know how she managed after she sent her whole family to the gallows. But she turns up again in the records in 1634 when she’s accused of having killed a woman with witchcraft. But in 1634 the King was dead and King Charles I was in charge. He was much more of a skeptical, and he promoted sustainable proof rather than religious fanaticism. 

The main witness was a boy named Edmund Robinson, aged ten. When he finally cracked up and admitted that he had made it all up, he referred to an old story he’d been told. A story about ten witches on the slopes of Pendle Hill…

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sources:

• Youtube – Timeline / The Trials Of The Pendle Witches
• Wikipedia / Pendle witches
• The History press / The Pendle Witches
• Britannica / The Witch Hunts
• Historic UK / The Pendle Witches
• SPR – Society for psychical research
• ASSAP – Association for the scientific study of anomalous phenomena.