By Gary Seven
Situated in the scenic moors of the Peak District of Northern England, Longdendale is a valley as steeped in bewitching narratives of occult practices as it is in natural beauty. Gracing the pages of local folklore are figments of these tales, beautifully captured in Thomas Middleton’s ‘Legends of Longdendale’. Let’s plunge into its depths and meander through ten spellbinding tales of witchcraft sewn into the cultural fabric of this area.
MAD MOLLY: DABBLING IN DIVINATION
Appearing in the latter part of the 16th-century narrative is Mad Molly, whose fame echoed high and far for her fortune-telling lore. Visitors poured in from distant lands, captivated by her divination proficiency. “Ye’ll meet an unfortunate end,” she forewarned the town drunkard whose eventual untimely departure unfurled as the eerie fulfilment of her prophecy. This event cast a spotlight on her powers and stature as a formidable witch in Longdendale’s annals.
THE CURIOUS CASE OF OLD PEG
Old Peg, initially known for her innocuous herb gathering, raised eyebrows as she was seen whispering over her gathered bounty. Nighttime near her lone hut were filled with murmurs, rustling leaves and whispers swirling with suspicion. When confronted, she once playfully hinted, “For health, or maybe a little mischief”. The line between an eccentric herbalist and an elusive witch was blurred forever.
ALICE NUTTER’S SPELL
Alice Nutter lived amidst pinions of scandal, yet stood her ground with poise. “I’m no witch, merely a victim of slander,” she firmly asserted to the local constabulary and townsfolk alike. Despite her persistence, town chronicles reveal instances of innocents foisting their uncanny miseries onto her alleged sorcery.
CHATSWORTH’S ENIGMATIC ENCHANTRESS
A unique mystique wrapped the tale of Chatsworth’s enchantress. Famed for her affinity with livestock, she antagonised local farmers with the claim, “Your beasts will dance till dawn!” To their bewilderment, animals under her influence indeed presented an unnatural spectacle of unrest, adding another layer to Longdendale’s witchy legacy.
MARGARET CROFT: THE MIDWIFE’S MAGIC
Margaret Croft, a seemingly unremarkable midwife, held a hidden realm of intrigue. Her expert hands brought countless babies into the valley. Yet, whispers hinted at a peculiar amulet she cherished, believed to possess mystic powers. “For a healthy birth,” she often insisted when queried, spurring further speculation of her esoteric practices.
GARLAND’S GREEN WITCH, THE EARTH MAGICIAN
The story of the sixth witch, the Green Witch of Garland, brought tales of improbable botanical beauty. Her alleged magic could awaken florals to life, even amidst winter’s heart. When she was confronted, she mischievously remarked, “Just a touch of witch’s green thumb”, thereby further knotting her status in the archives of witchcraft in Longdendale.
THE BEWITCHING BREWER’S WIFE
Claims of an enchanted ale surrounding the Brewer’s Wife led to her entry into our chronicles. Patrons intimated peculiar effects following its consumption, but she quashed rumours, fictionally quipping, “The brew’s intoxicated, not enchanted.” Yet, stories of strange behaviours after imbibing this drink continue to colour town gossip till today.
THE SASSY SORCERESS OF STALYBRIDGE
The eighth witch on our list is the enigmatic sorceress of Stalybridge, alleged to radiate inexplicable domestic chaos. As turmoil seemed to follow her, the townsfolk complained, yet she would jokingly shrug off the allegations, “Perhaps the spirits favour mischief today.”
HARE HILL’S HEXING HAG
Tales of the fearsome Hexing Hag of Hare Hill remain coloured with terror. Her shadowy black cat brewed fear among the locals, believed to be her familiar. Whenever challenged, she threateningly retorted, “Beware, thou shall feel my wrath too,” thereby fortified the macabre aura surrounding her.
TAMESIDE’S TORMENTING TEMPTRESS
The narrative closes on Tameside’s alluring temptress, whose beauty was both a feast for eyes and a trigger for speculation. Men seemed to be enchanted in her presence, which led to murmurs of intricate spells. Unfazed, she maintained, “Beauty isn’t a sin, nor a spell, but a gift.” The luring glamour of her beguiling mysteries persists in the valley, adding her tale to the mystic tapestry of Longdendale’s history.
The Secret Paranormal Investigator 