We also had a look at the new Lancashire Witches marker in Croasdale, which bears a poem by Poet Laureat, Carol Ann Duffy:
"The Lancashire Witches
1. One voice for ten dragged this way once by superstition, ignorance.
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
2. Witch: female, cunning, manless, old, daughter of such, of evil faith; in the murk of Pendle Hill, a crone.
3. Here, heavy storm-clouds, ill-will brewed, over fields, fells, farms, blighted woods. On the wind’s breath, curse of crow and rook.
4. From poverty, no poetry but weird spells, half-prayer, half-threat; sharp pins in the little dolls of death.
5. At daylights gate, the things we fear darken and form. That tree, that rock, a slattern’s shape with the devil’s dog.
6. Something upholds us in its palm – landscape, history, place amd time – and above, the same old witness moon
7. Below which Demdike, Chattox, shrieked like hags, unloved, an underclass, badly fed, unwell. Their eyes were red.
8. But that was then – when difference made ghouls of neighbours, child beggars, feral, filthy, threatened in their cowls.
9. Grim skies, the grey remorse of rain; sunset’s crimson shame; four seasons, centuries, turning in Lancashire.
10. Away from Castle, jury, judge, huge crowd, rough rope, short drop, no grave, only future tourists who might grieve.
CAROL ANN DUFFY"
2012 marked the 400 years anniversary of the trial and execution of the Pendle Witches and a group of local artists and historians started a fascinating project Lancashire Witches 400 to commemorate the event as well as to highlight the modern day issue of the persecution of witches. I also learned about Lancaster charity Stepping Stones Nigeria, who defend children's rights in the Niger Delta, where children are still labelled as witches and blamed for all manner of things including affliction by HIV/AIDS. It is remarkable that in the 21st century stuff like this is still going on.
