Clitheroe is now home to a new Art Instillation. Dandy is a large blackened stainless steel statue of a dog. And he’s no ordinary dog. Created by Dutch-born Lancashire based Sculptor Marian Woulda, Dandy is her representation of a Witches familiar.
The Lancashire town of Clitheroe lies in the shadow of Pendle Hill, from where in 1612 nine of the twelve accused Pendle Witches were walked to Lancaster Castle and put on trial for witchcraft. Of the twelve, one was found innocent, one died in prison , one was hung in York and nine at Gallows Hill.
Many of the alleged Witches admitted under interrogation to having spirit familiars , usually in the form of an animal. Cats, dogs and hares were mentioned, malevolent spirits that demanded punishment towards those who had belittled or refused to buy wares from the accused. In some cases harm did befall the alleged Witches ‘victims’ , illness and death were rife in the seventeenth century.
A large black dog called Dandy was apparently the familiar of young James Device , the grandson of one Elizabeth Southerns, aka Old Demdike. He confessed to putting curses on two people with Dandy’s encouragement. Unfortunately for James, they expired soon after.
So was Dandy a demonic dog? His likeness certainly has a devil may care attitude , I love how fluidly graceful he appears. As if at any moment he could leap off his plinth and bound away up Pendle Hill…..
Find Dandy on Station Road just outside Booths supermarket.
Other Witchy Finds In Clitheroe.
The Pendle Witch Trials of 1612 were unusual in that such a large number of accused witches from the same area, were executed all together. Many of the alleged came from two rival families, that didn’t exactly get on. All but one were poor and all but two were women. The charged were imprisoned in chains and made to take the ardeous 51 mile journey from Barrowford to Lancaster on foot , passing through Clitheroe, the Ribble Valley and the remote Forest Of Bowland.
Clitheroe Castles Norman Keep is an atmospheric place from which to view Pendle Hill. Looking around the grounds , you will notice a few witchy finds including one of ten iron waymarkers situated on The Lancashire Witches Walk. All are engraved with a poem by poet Carol Ann Duffy. Each separate tercet is dedicated to one of the poor souls hung on Gallows Hill. Clitheroe’s features Isobel Robey who was charged with practising witchcraft and sentenced to death.
None of the Pendle Witches came from Clitheroe, though an alleged witch did receive punishment in the town. Margaret Pearson of nearby Padiham found herself rounded up and accused of bewitching a horse during the same time period. She was sentenced to standing in the pillory at Clitheroe, Padiham, Whalley and Sabden on four consecutive market days.
There are a few shops in Clitheroe that sell information about the Pendle Witches and/or other Witchy souvenirs.
The Cackling Witch on Castle Gate.
North West Crystals UK on Castle Gate.
Platform Gallery & Visitor Centre on Station Road.
Thanks for dropping by. Let me know what you think of Dandy……
sunshine and celandines 
Aw wow I love him 😍 we are holidaying near there this year, will possibly manage to pay a visit!
Oh wonderful. I am sure you will see Dandy if you visit Clitheroe.
Love the dog. The postry on stones reminded me of the stanza stones too.
Yes very similar I think.
Carol Ann Duffy’s poetry is always good; she wrote one called John Barleycorn which I think you would like.
Now, you mention the 51 miles to Lancaster from Barrowford; was Barrowford simply the starting point or was there a prison or other holding building there?
And before I forget, Dandy is amazing! Not sure I’d want to bump into him on the way home after a few at The Cackling Witch.
🥴🥴🥴
I think the witches were questioned in Barrowford and probably held there too but I am not totally sure. It is agreed though that Barrowford was the starting point of their journey to Lancaster Castle.
I will have to check out the John Barleycorn poem.
Unfortunately the Cackling Witch is just a shop, not a pub. Great name though! There is a Pendle Witch pub in nearby Sabden and one in Lancaster I think as well as a Water Witch pub……
Thanks, Sharon. I remember staying in Barrowford for a holiday with family (all departed now) but never heard that connection xx
I’ll look out for him next time I come through.
Head for Booths and you won’t miss him.
He was there today. Wonderful.
That’s a wonderful dog statue and a great place to take a photo if you have a dog. I love the wonderful window display of the Cackling Witch shop in Clitheroe -I’d like to stop by it. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
Glad you like the dog statue. He’s rather sweet, I think. 😁
It’s a shocking story. I do like the dog sculpture, sort of reclaims the idea of the familiar to be something good.
He will be good for the town. 🙂
Dandy -a weirdly wonderful creation – must pop along for a look!
I love your description. 🙂
Great sculpture inspired by a fascinatingly grisly subject. I think it’s important that such stories of communal madness are kept alive, so we can all be on the look out for the next one…these days malicious village gossip has been simply been superseded by fake news and internet trolls.
Absolutely!
I love Dandy, he’s very striking. I like the way the area is embracing the history.
History should always be remembered. X
Beautiful sculpture 😍. Is he really big? Can’t really tell from the photo.
He is pretty big. About 2 metres. And stands on a tallish plinth.
It’s very impressive. Although he does appear rather sinister. Xx
I think he is meant to appear a little sinister. Is he a good dog or a bad dog? For us to decide.
I like the look of Dandy. But beware of the “Familiar”!