Episode 317 - Pendle’s Dark Hour: The 1612 Witch Trials with Leigh Wakefield

In this episode of Talking Tudors, Natalie Grueninger talks with Leigh Wakefield about the infamous Pendle Witch Trials of 1612 and their legacy. They explore the rival families at the centre of the accusations, the role of witness testimony—especially that of children—the trial records by Thomas Potts, and the later 1634 case that questioned earlier verdicts.

The conversation also considers how sources were shaped by contemporary agendas, what the evidence can and cannot tell us, and why Pendle remains a powerful part of local heritage and modern interest in witchcraft history.

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https://www.instagram.com/historic_leigh_speaking

Find out more about your host at https://www.nataliegrueninger.com

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TUDOR TAKEAWAY

Pott's Discovery of Witches in the County of Lancaster

https://archive.org/details/pottsdiscoveryof00pottrich