Demdike Jewellery began in the beautiful countryside overlooking Pendle Hill in North East Lancashire - 

Pendle Hill - January 2010

 although we have also recently extended into the Lincoln area.

A small family business, 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 of our designs 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 Specialist Market, you might find a cackling witch with glowing eyes swinging from the rafters or rocking in her chair. Lancashire folk go 'Ah, yes' & nod sagely - but if you're not from northern parts you might wonder about the connection. 

'Demdike' started long ago when I registered a local 'name' on Ebay around Hallowe'en time ... and it stuck!  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 wouldn't 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.

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 led to their downfall, with each determined to out-boast the other in curses, spells & general harm to others. When their behaviour 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. Having survived to 80+ she had faded away in a dungeon, deep within the Castle's bowels.

Those dungeons are still there - but 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.thekpgallery.com - where you'll find The K P Gallery: an online Art Gallery displaying art by Keith Parkinson based in Barrowford, Lancashire, UK.

http://pendlewitchexperience.co.uk/

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