Demdike Jewellery is a small company based in the beautiful countryside around Pendle Hill in North East Lancashire.

Autumn sunset over Pendle Hill

 We specialise in sterling & fine silver jewellery - hand-crafted using semi-precious gemstones, cultured freshwater pearls, & the finest Austrian (Swarovski) & Bohemian crystal.

And, because our jewellery is hand-crafted, it can be modified to exactly what you want. There are many options within the ordering system - but if what you want isn't there, please just get in touch by phone or email: that's how most ranges began life.

Customer satisfaction really DOES matter to us - very much. So please do also take the time to look at our terms - not least, to see how we can help long after your jewellery becomes a favourite.

DEMDIKE & THE LANCASHIRE WITCHES

If you visit us at a Show, Festival, or one of the Specialist Markets in the North of England, you might find a cackling witch with glowing eyes either swinging from the rafters or rocking in her chair. Most Lancashire folk go 'Ah, yes' & nod sagely - but if you are not from these parts you might wonder about the connection. 

The name 'Demdike' began long ago in my teaching days when - researching information for a local history / Literacy lesson - I got diverted on to Ebay (as one does). It being Hallowe'en time - and as I was looking up info about Demdike - that became my Ebay monniker ... and the name stuck!  And no, I'm not, never have been, and never will be a witch of any kind!!! No matter what my former pupils say.

The original Demdike lived in the Pendle Forest around 400 years ago - a strange old woman who used to wander about the district with a straw mattress on her back, begging, cursing, & issuing threats to all who refused to give in to her demands. Certainly, she & her ne'er-do-well family were locally regarded as witches & much-hated by all good God-fearing folk. (And by all accounts they were still giving Yvette Fielding's 'Most Haunted' team a rough time not too long ago).

To make matters worse Demdike's family (the Southern / Device clan) were at loggerheads with an equally obnoxious tribe (the Windles) led by yet another old harridan known as 'Chattox'.

It was the fighting & one-upmanship between these two families which ultimately led to their downfall, with each determined to out-boast the other in terms of curses, spells & general harm to others. When their deeds came to the ears of the King's magistrate, Roger Nowell, members of both families were arrested, imprisoned at Lancaster Castle, tried for witchcraft and - when found guilty - were hanged on Golgotha Hill just outside the city in November 1612.

Demdike was not among them. At the grand old age of 80+ she had faded away in a dungeon, deep within the Castle's bowels.

Those dungeons are still there - but are not open to the public as they lie at the heart of Lancaster Castle which is still, as 400 years ago, a working prison.

For more information about the Lancashire Witch Country - & to take a tour - you might like to visit these websites:

http://www.lancashireshillcountry.co.uk/

http://pendlewitchexperience.co.uk/

http://www.northernlifemagazine.co.uk/