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Trail
Barley to Roughlee..along by river, turn left at X-roads. Follow through village and at end, find Rough Lee Hall standing in a small lane on left, parallel to main road. Go past, turn left and park. Rough Lee Hall today 5pts.
Trial
It is possible that her house was near the school house (2pts) in Roughlee.
" Amongst those arrested was Alice Nutter, a lady of good family and a fair estate at Rough Lea. There is every reason to believe that she was in no way implicated in the doings of the so-called witches, and that the child Jennet Device was bribed by some of her relatives, who in the event of her death would inherit her property,to introduce her name. In addition to this Roger Nowell was one of her bitterest enemies: Alice Nutter won a lawsuit against him with regard to the boundary of their respective properties, he having claimed a portion of her land." Frank Hird
“Many people believe she was a Catholic,” says Brenda Kean, who has spent years showing visitors around the sites associated with the Pendle Witches. “And the reason she could not defend herself [from being accused of attending a ‘witches’ sabbath’] was that she had been at Mass, which was also illegal.” Remember Roger Nowell also enthusiastically prosecuted these cases. It is a bold claim, but Mgr Peter Corcoran of St Michael and St John’s in Clitheroe say it is supported in the area. Witch,Spurned Land owner or Catholic? The mystery will go on about the only 'witch' to have a statue dedicated to her.
"It is generally thought that Baldwin’s Mill where Elizabeth Device (old Demdike) helped out, was the corn mill that was situated in Roughlee near to the residence of Alice Nutter at Damhead. However the mill was owned by Lawrence Townley who in 1609 paid £0.2s compared with 1s at Carr Mill, and illustrates the difference in size of the two operations." Lancashire Witch Conspiracy:
Old Demdike in her confession said nothing as to any evil befalling Richard Baldwyn (of Weethead/Wheathead nr Roughlee). But her granddaughter, Alison Device, said that the day after Baldwyn ordered them off his land, she heard that one of his children had fallen ill, and that after languishing for about a year, had died, and upon oath this woman stated she verily thought "that her said grandmother did bewitch the said child to death." Frank Hird
Alice Nutter
Alice Nutter
A statue to Alice Nutter was commissioned "to celebrate a resident who was unfairly treated". But this wont be be it - the 'maquette' of Alice Nutter , made by Marjon Wouda for the Council, has been turned down.
The local Councillor says:"I wanted the statue to be something that represented the women waiting to leave her home to begin the journey to Lancaster for Trials.- p34 of present Inside Lancashire, Marjon Wouda says:" I have tried to give expression to the anguish Alice Nutter must have felt, on her way to Lancaster Goal, through her posture. She stands upright, the wind tugging at her clothes, her arms wrapped around herself, as though she is trying to protect herself."
See Unveiling of this new statue (on road from Barley to Roughlee)
'The Rough Lee' is also where Alison Device admitted that she had sold her soul to the devil in the shape of a dog. 'Roughlee would be in line from Malkin Tower, where she lived, to what is now Colne Cemetery, the place where she had the disagreement with John Law about pins - that set the whole witch trial off, She ordered the dog to lame the pedlar when he accused her of being a thief.
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