Newchurch in Pendle

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Newchurch in Pendle
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Newchurch in Pendle
Location map United Kingdom Borough of Pendle.svg
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Newchurch in Pendle
Location in Pendle Borough
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Newchurch in Pendle
Location in the Forest of Bowland AONB
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Newchurch in Pendle
Location within Lancashire
OS grid reference SD821393
Civil parish
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town BURNLEY
Postcode district BB12
Dialling code 01282
Police Lancashire
Fire Lancashire
Ambulance North West
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List of places
UK
England
Lancashire
53°51′00″N2°16′19″W / 53.850°N 2.272°W / 53.850; -2.272

Newchurch in Pendle is a village in the civil parish of Goldshaw Booth, Pendle, Lancashire, England, adjacent to Barley, to the south of Pendle Hill. It was formerly part of Roughlee Booth until its transferral in 1935.

Contents

History

Famous for the Demdike family of Pendle witches who lived there in the 17th century. Newchurch used to be called 'Goldshaw Booth' and later 'Newchurch in Pendle Forest', however, this was shortened to 'Newchurch in Pendle'. [1]

St Mary's Church at the centre of the village is steeped in history. The church is not easily visible from the road, as it lies on the downward side of a steep hill, with a row of houses at the top and the primary school, St Mary's Church of England School, to the side. There was a chapel of ease on this site in 1250 and a later chapel was dedicated in 1544. The tower, although restored, is the only remaining part of that building.

The current church was probably built in the 17th century, it was only completed in 1740. The "Eye of God" is built into the west side of the tower [1] as a deterrent from evil spirits. To the east of the porch, up against the south wall, is the grave of a member of the Nutter family (carved with a skull and crossbones). Local legend has it that it is the last resting place of Alice Nutter, one of the famous Pendle witches. [1] However, executed witches were not normally buried in consecrated ground, and the skull and crossbones is a common memento mori device used to remind onlookers of their own mortality. So it can be fairly confidently asserted that the legend is in fact a myth. The ancient ceremony of rushbearing is performed. A procession is led around the village, the new Rushbearing Queen is crowned and is followed by a service of thanksgiving in the church. [2] [3]

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Laund Booth</span> Human settlement in England

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Goldshaw Booth is a civil parish in Pendle, Lancashire, England. It contains 14 listed buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England. Of these, two are at Grade II*, the middle grade, and the others are at Grade II, the lowest grade. The parish contains the village of Newchurch in Pendle and is otherwise rural. Almost all the listed buildings in the parish are houses, farmhouses, farm buildings, and associated structures. The other listed buildings are a church and two memorials in the churchyard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roughlee Booth</span> Civil parish in England

Roughlee Booth is a civil parish located in Pendle, Lancashire. It is approximately 449.43 hectares in size and situated in the Forest of Bowland AONB. It borders on the parishes of Blacko, Barrowford, Old Laund Booth, Goldshaw Booth and Barley-with-Wheatley Booth. It is part of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It contains the village of Roughlee and hamlets of Crow Trees and Thornley Holme. According to the United Kingdom Census 2011, the parish has a population of 318, a decrease from 328 in the 2001 census.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Jessop, David (1978). Around historic Lancashire. Internet Archive. Tunbridge Wells [Eng.] : Midas Books. ISBN   978-0-85936-108-8.
  2. WILLIAM AND ROBERT CHAMBERS (1857). Chamber's Journal of Popular Literature Science and Arts. Oxford University.
  3. Gerrard, David (2003). The hidden places of Lancashire and Cheshire : including the Isle of Man. Internet Archive. Aldermaston : Travel. ISBN   978-1-902007-67-0.

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