Pendle Hill
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2008-07-09T19:23:15Z
JGXenite
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Reverted 1 edit by [[Special:Contributions/78.105.209.253|78.105.209.253]] identified as [[WP:VAND|vandalism]] to last revision by [[User:Lightbot|Lightbot]]. ([[WP:TW|TW]])
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{{Infobox Mountain
| Name = Pendle Hill
| Photo = Pendle_Hill_Lancs.jpg
| Caption =
| Elevation = {{convert|557|m|0|abbr=on}}
| Location = [[Lancashire]], [[England]]
| Range =
| Prominence = ''c.'' {{convert|395|m|0}}
| Parent peak = [[Kinder Scout]]
| Coordinates = {{coord|53.869|-2.300|display=title,inline|region:GB_type:landmark}}
| Topographic map = [[Ordnance Survey|OS]] ''Landranger'' 103
| Type =
| Age =
| First ascent =
| Easiest route =
| Grid_ref_UK = SD804414
| Listing = [[Marilyn (hill)|Marilyn]]
| Translation =
| Language =
| Pronunciation =
}}
[[Image:Pendle Hill above mist 235-0004.jpg|thumb|right|306px|Pendle from the northwest. [[Longridge Fell]] is to the right]]
'''Pendle Hill''' is located in the north-east of [[Lancashire]], [[England]], near the towns of [[Burnley]], [[Colne]], [[Nelson, England|Nelson]] and [[Clitheroe]]. Its summit is {{convert|557|m|0}} above mean sea level. It gives its name to the [[Pendle|Borough of Pendle]]. It is an isolated hill, separated from the [[Pennines]] to the east and the [[Forest of Bowland]] to the northwest. It lies to the southwest of the [[Yorkshire Dales]] National Park. It is a detached part of the [[Forest of Bowland]] [[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]] (AONB).
==History==
The phrase ''Pendle Hill'' is unusual in that it combines the word for hill from three different languages. In the thirteenth century the hill was mentioned as ''Pennul'' or ''Penhul''; apparently from [[Cumbric language|Cumbric]] ''pen'' and [[Old English language|Old English]] ''hyll'', both meaning "[[hill]]". The [[modern English]] ''hill'' was appended later, after the original meaning of ''Pendle'' had become opaque.
[[Geological]]ly the hill consists of an ancient [[plateau]] of [[millstone grit]] over softer [[shale]]s on an underlying [[limestone]] bed. The historic decomposition of [[sphagnum]] moss on the hill has led to it being covered in [[peat]].
Pendle Hill is famous for its links to three events which took place in the 17th century: the [[Pendle witch trials]], Townley's barometer experiment in 1667, and the claimed visitation to [[George Fox]], which led to the foundation of the [[Religious Society of Friends|Quaker]] movement. A [[Bronze Age]] burial site has been also discovered at the [[topographical summit|summit]] of the hill.
The most popular route for climbing the hill begins in the village of [[Barley, Lancashire|Barley]], which lies to the east. This route also provides the steepest ascent. Other nearby villages include [[Downham, Lancashire|Downham]], [[Newchurch-in-Pendle]] and [[Sabden]].
The area is now popular with ghost hunters after [[Living (channel)|''Living'']] channel's top show ''[[Most Haunted]]'' visited the hill for a live investigation on Halloween 2004.<ref>[http://www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk/clitheroenews/39Most-Haunted39-crew-has-a.883121.jp 'Most Haunted' crew has a spooky visit to Pendle] ''Clitheroe Advertiser'', [[November 5]], [[2004]]. Accessed [[March 29]], [[2008]].</ref> The show's presenter, [[Yvette Fielding]], said at the time that it was the scariest episode they had made to date.
A local saying suggests that the area around Pendle Hill experiences frequent rainfall: "If you can't see Pendle then it's raining, and if you can then it's going to rain."
==Pendle Witches==
The story of the [[Pendle witch trials]] is the best known example of alleged [[witchcraft]] in English [[history]]. The hill continues to be associated with witchcraft and, every [[Hallowe'en]], large numbers of visitors climb it.
==Quakers==
In 1652, [[George Fox]] claimed to have had a vision while on top of Pendle, during the early years of the [[Religious Society of Friends]] (Quakers). Today, the name Pendle remains strongly linked with the Quakers, giving its name to [[Pendle Hill Quaker Center for Study and Contemplation|their centre]] for religious and spiritual study and contemplation in the [[USA]].
{{cquote|As we travelled, we came near a very great hill, called Pendle Hill, and I was moved of the Lord to go up to the top of it; which I did with difficulty, it was so very steep and high. When I was come to the top, I saw the sea bordering upon Lancashire. From the top of this hill the Lord let me see in what places he had a great people to be gathered.
[[George Fox]] - An Autobiography, [http://www.strecorsoc.org/gfox/ch06.html Chapter 6]}}
==See also==
*[[Firbank Fell]]
*[[Forest of Bowland]]
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.ribblevalley.gov.uk/static/page55.htm Ribble Valley Borough Council Tourist Information on Pendle Hill]
* [http://www.visitlancashire.com/ visitLancashire.com - Official Lancashire Tourism information, Walks and Cycle Routes around Pendle Hill]
* [http://www.walkingpages.co.uk/places/CPL_pendle.htm Walking Pages: Pendle]
* [http://www.mikes-walks.co.uk/Walks/Lancs/Dunsop_Fell/Pendle/pendle.html A circuit of Pendle Hill from Downham]
* [http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walks/walks6/w287.shtml A circuit of Pendle Hill from Barley]
* [http://www.forestofbowland.com/visiting/leaflet/leaflet2.html Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]
* Computer generated summit panorama [http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/panoramas/ENG/Pendle.gif Pendle Hill] [http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/panoramas.html index]
* [http://www.strecorsoc.org/gfox/title.html#contents George Fox - An Autobiography]
* [http://www.burnleylife.com/attractions_pendle%20hill.html Pendle Hill - Walking Guide]
[[Category:Geography of Pendle]]
[[Category:Marilyns of England]]
[[Category:Hills of the Forest of Bowland]]
[[Category:Mountains and hills of Lancashire]]
[[Category:Quakerism]]