The Lancashire Witches


Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)

(4.8 stars; 53 reviews)

The Lancashire Witches is a highly fictionalised account of the activities of the notorious witches Demdike, Chattox and Alice Nutter who, together with others terrorised the district of Lancashire around Pendle Hill and the Forest of Bowland during the early seventeenth century. The witches named in the book were real enough, if not as witches then as people. Ainsworth, in his story brings in the dissolution of Whalley Abbey and the historic families of Assheton, Braddyll and Nowell and takes us through to the final trial and execution at Lancaster Castle in 1612. (Summary by Andy Minter) (25 hr 13 min)

Chapters

Introduction Ch. 1 - The Beacon on Pendle Hill 37:04 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Introduction Ch. 2 - The Eruption 16:29 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Introduction Ch. 3 - Whalley Abbey 29:48 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Introduction Ch. 4 - The Malediction 17:03 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Introduction Ch. 5 - The Midnight Mass 17:45 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Introduction Ch. 6 - Teter Et Fortis Carcer 20:37 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Introduction Ch. 7 - The Abbey Mill 27:24 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Introduction Ch. 8 - The Executioner 13:27 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Introduction Ch. 9 - Wiswall Hall 10:25 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Introduction Ch. 10 - The Holehouses 10:46 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 1 Ch. 1 - The May Queen 27:29 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 1 Ch. 2 - The Black Cat And The White Dove 14:54 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 1 Ch. 3 - The Asshetons 41:17 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 1 Ch. 4 - Alice Nutter 32:37 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 1 Ch. 5 - Mother Chattox 49:30 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 1 Ch. 6 - The Ordeal By Swimming 29:36 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 1 Ch. 7 - The Ruined Conventual Church 1:02:33 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 1 Ch. 8 - The Revelation 29:42 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 1 Ch. 9 - The Two Portraits In The Banqueting-Hall Part 1 45:26 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 1 Ch. 9 - The Two Portraits In The Banqueting-Hall Part 2 47:11 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 1 Ch. 10 - The Nocturnal Meeting 54:51 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 2 Ch. 1 - Flint 31:35 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 2 Ch. 2 - Read Hall 17:29 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 2 Ch. 3 - The Boggart's Glen 18:34 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 2 Ch. 4 - The Reeve Of The Forest 21:52 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 2 Ch. 5 - Bess's O' Th' Booth 30:25 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 2 Ch. 6 - The Temptation 31:40 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 2 Ch. 7 - The Perambulation Of The Boundaries 46:51 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 2 Ch. 8 - Rough Lee 26:51 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 2 Ch. 9 - How Rough Lee Was Defended By Nicholas 26:48 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 2 Ch. 10 - Roger Nowell And His Double 19:12 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 2 Ch. 11 - Mother Demdike 29:34 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 2 Ch. 12 - The Mysteries Of Malkin Tower 26:26 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 2 Ch. 13 - The Two Familiars 49:46 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 2 Ch. 14 - How Rough Lee Was Again Besieged 25:56 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 2 Ch. 15 - The Phantom Monk 16:43 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 2 Ch. 16 - One O'clock! 33:26 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 2 Ch. 17 - How The Beacon Fire Was Extinguished 25:38 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 3 Ch. 1 - Downham Manor-House 1:04:54 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 3 Ch. 2 - The Penitent's Retreat 13:27 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 3 Ch. 3 - Middleton Hall 28:53 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 3 Ch. 4 - The Gorge Of Cliviger 24:51 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 3 Ch. 5 - The End Of Malkin Tower 31:50 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 3 Ch. 6 - Hoghton Tower 54:35 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 3 Ch. 7 - The Royal Declaration Concerning Lawful Sports On The Sunday 30:38 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 3 Ch. 8 - How King James Hunted The Hart And The Wild-Boar In Hoghton Park 38:04 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 3 Ch. 9 - The Banquet 27:19 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 3 Ch. 10 - Evening Entertainments 28:22 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 3 Ch. 11 - Fatality 14:18 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 3 Ch. 12 - The Last Hour 17:02 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 3 Ch. 13 - The Masque Of Death 13:11 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 3 Ch. 14 - "One Grave" 4:43 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Book 3 Ch. 15 - Lancaster Castle 6:56 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)

Reviews


(4 stars)

Worth your time. Excellent narration. Some actual history as-well. (much more dramatic license than fact) A good book. I recommend.


(5 stars)

I've listened to this story many times and will listen again. I love Ainsworth and wish Andy Minter would read Old St Paul's, my favorite Ainsworth story. This story is long but oh so worth it. Thank you Mr minter, very well done.

Excellent recording


(5 stars)

this is a good book and read excelently which makes the story even more enjoyable.

Wonderful


(5 stars)

If you've been put off by other Librivox volunteer recordings - which often leave an awful lot to be desired - try this one. It is excellent, and of the quality that you'd expect from a commercially produced recording. The reader does a brilliant and appropriate range of accents and voices. The story itself is a cracker. Thoroughly recommended.

Admirable story, well read.


(5 stars)

I enjoyed this a lot. Andy Minter is an amazing talent. I must admit though, that some of the accents of the characters (Welsh?) made it hard to understand every word, but, I got the gist of it sufficient to follow the story 😀


(4.5 stars)

A good story with a good triumphs kind of ending, although still with some bittersweetness to it.

engaging tale of witchcraft, beautifully read.


(5 stars)

this is an example of how all audiobook presentations should be delivered. the late Andy Minter provides individual voices for the several doesn't characters and imparts a great deal of personality for each, making the complex story very easy to follow. in terms of the novel itself, this is a fantastic tail with action and events at every point during its length. if you enjoy the Lord of the Rings but our bored by one journey through a forest too many; if you enjoy the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe but tyre of the Relentless two-dimensional nature of good vs evil; if you are a Potterhead but can't help thinking that you have come across every plot device and every character somewhere else before: if you enjoy His Dark Materials but feel slightly queasy about the nature of dust then perhaps you should give the Lancashire Witches a go.. the plot is inspired by the Pendle witch trials of 1612 and features a number of the key individuals listed in the trial journal. this is a true masterpiece.

Highly Fictionalised!


(4 stars)

As a Lancashire lass myself I well know the real story of the Pendle Witches, and this isn't it. However it is a very entertaining yarn. Harrison Ainsworth was a Mancunian by birth and clearly knew and loved the Lancashire countryside which he describes beautifully throughout the book. He clearly knows the real history of the area too, but chooses to ignore much of it here. Ainsworth takes the names of many of the real Pendle witches but creates his own, wholly imaginary version of their lives and ultimate deaths. e.g.witches were never burned in England - they were hanged. That being said I thoroughly enjoyed this recording. Andy Minter deserves the highest praise for his efforts.