Witch and the Oak
This Stone is part of the wider Longridge Fell Stone Circuit – ‘The Forset of Stone'. The entire circuit consists of the Brownslow Brook Stones, Witch and the Oak, Spruce Stone, Taiga Stone, Acorn Stone, Hansel and Gretel, the Axe Stones and the Giant's Whetstone.
Weight
95kg / 210lbs
Location
View on what3words - mess.hangs.cement
Original Challenge
Carry the witching stone 3 times around the oak tree (clock-wise) and set down softly.
Name Origin
The Stones sits at the base of an ancinet oak tree in view of Pendle Hill, famed for the witch trials of 1612.
Stones Placement
The Stone was discovered in situ by @dances_with_stones at the base of the oak tree, just off the path towards the trig point of Longridge Fell.
History
The witches of Pendle Hill were at the centre of one of England’s most famous witch trials in 1612. The events began in March 1612, when Alizon Device accused a local pedlar of bewitching. This sparked a chain of accusations rooted in fear, poverty, and local tensions.
By August 1612, twelve people had been imprisoned and brought to trial at Lancaster Castle. During the Pendle witch trials, ten were found guilty and executed on 20 August 1612, including Elizabeth Device, making it one of the most well-documented witchcraft persecutions in English history.
Access and Permissions
This stone is located on open-access land. Public access rights apply subject to any restrictions or exclusions applicable to the site. These rights do not automatically grant permission to move, alter or place stones. Users should ensure that any lifting is compatible with the applicable access rights and restrictions and leave the stone and surrounding area as they found them.
Please read our Stonelifting Policy before attempting to lift this stone. The policy sets out the requirements regarding access, permissions, safety, conservation and responsible lifting.
