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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 part of the Pennines and lies at the southern edge of the Forest of Bowland, and 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 an association with 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
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 (http://www.strecorsoc.org/gfox/ch06.html)
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.
External Links
The Quakers & Pendle Hill links
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