Narrative Play by Chrissie Haywood
Chrissie is a York resident who has spent time researching the historical
evidence for the Pendle Witch Trials and has then written the narrative play to
celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Pendle Witch
Trials.
The Play was performed for the first time on Monday 13th August 2012, the same week that 400 years ago, ten people were executed at Lancaster on Gallows Hill for witchcraft. It traces the history of the Pendle Witch Trials through the presentation of evidence as given
by the "Witches" themselves.
The Play took place in the historical Wolfe Room of The Black Swan Inn in York, surrounded by ancient wooden panelling, and the room is entered via the creaky, uneven
original stairs of the 16th century Merchant's Mansion. It is the second oldest
functioning pub building in York and provided a particularly suitable
"mysterious" atmosphere in which to stage the Play.
Chrissie herself has a genealogiical link to Anne Whittle
(known as Chattox). Her mother was a Whittle and the Whittles originated from
Whittle Le Woods in the Pendle district of Lancashire.
evidence for the Pendle Witch Trials and has then written the narrative play to
celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Pendle Witch
Trials.
The Play was performed for the first time on Monday 13th August 2012, the same week that 400 years ago, ten people were executed at Lancaster on Gallows Hill for witchcraft. It traces the history of the Pendle Witch Trials through the presentation of evidence as given
by the "Witches" themselves.
The Play took place in the historical Wolfe Room of The Black Swan Inn in York, surrounded by ancient wooden panelling, and the room is entered via the creaky, uneven
original stairs of the 16th century Merchant's Mansion. It is the second oldest
functioning pub building in York and provided a particularly suitable
"mysterious" atmosphere in which to stage the Play.
Chrissie herself has a genealogiical link to Anne Whittle
(known as Chattox). Her mother was a Whittle and the Whittles originated from
Whittle Le Woods in the Pendle district of Lancashire.