Lancaster Castel,Me and the Pendle Witches.

Lancaster  Lancaster Castle was originally a late 11th century with.arth and timber ringwork fortress, founded by Roger de Poitou. Built within the Roman fort of Lunium, King Henry I founded the stone enclosure castle, in the early 12th century. Occupied by King David of Scotland in the mid 12th century, it was retaken by Hubert de Burgh in 1199, only to be partly destroyed in the raids by King Robert the Bruce, in 1315 and 1322. The curtain wall, is flanked by a large square four storey keep and next to John of Gaunt’s monumental 15th century gatehouse, is the square Norman Well Tower, were the Pendle Witches where held. Used as a prison since 1745, the 20th century, construction of the Shire Hall and court complex, considerably altered the castle. 3 miles north-east is Castle Hill.

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Lancaster Castle is open to the public daily – except that when the Courts are in session, some of the Castle rooms are unavailable and the itinerary is changed. The entrance for the public tour is half way round the Castle from the John O’ Gaunt Gateway, and is opposite the gateway to Lancaster Priory. There is an admission charge to the Castle. There are many steps in this historic Castle, and it is not suitable for wheelchair access. The part of Lancaster Castle which is still a working prison is not open to the public at any time.
 
Whilst on the topic of Castels. Take a look at Lancaster Castel. This is where I used to work. Believe it or not I have never, ever, ever been in the tourist bit. I always wanted to but never got round to it. I worked in the prison and the last thing you wanted to do when finishing work was do the tourist bit. You just needed to get the fuck out of there. I’m not a prison officer,anything to do with police,probation or carrots worker. I was asked to help as part of a team to introduce the 12 step treatment  for drug and alchol  in the prison system.

HEY!!! check this out….Can you believe that I actually got head huntered for this job. That’s a first, and I’m damn sure that will never happen again, Haha!!!!

There’s another little story that I may tell one day,why it was SO VERY FUCKIN WIERD I end up being head huntered to work in a prison.This job was the hardest job I have ever done in my life and I have been around treatments centers in different form’s for 20 years now.

For one… I had to leave my two children to get ready for school on their own and not be able to see them off. I had 4 trains a day to catch , so travelling time was about 3 hours depending if the trains were on time. The kids had to come home from school to no mum.Aw!!! This carried on for a couple of years.It’s so hard for single mum’s to work and travel a lot to get to work to try to maintain some stability. It was hard for us.

For two.. 12 step treatment with men,Im not going in to detail it so wouldn’t be fair ( but I want to )wore me out.12 step treatments dictates that you  ( go thro ) everything from childhood to the present.Everything…I sat in circle’s with men, for 4 hours a day, 2 hours writing up reports on progress and 2 hours one to one with men. PHEW!!! The programme is 3 months I worked there for over 2 years you can imagine how many men I’ve sat with. Is it any wonder I’ve focased my love this past couple of years on my women friends.

Well……You can imagine what I’ve had to listen to and try to understand and try to help restore that little bit of faith ( when I felt sick in the soul not just the stomach ).

I think I”m going off track here. I was talking about the Castel. YES!! I’ve never been round the tourist bit. I’d love to one day.

You know… Every morning walking up to the big fantastic gate. I felt like a real wench come princess.I also had a little dream at that point, just before I entered work. I so needed that little moment.

OMG! what an hard job and I’m sat here just thinking, shit how on earth did I manage that.

 I have to say here. All the men that I worked alongside were absoutly brilliant amazing men, well most were. They really looked after me.The prisoner’s more than the prison officers.(Most prison officers were fuckin wankers). It feels a bit wierd to be saying that…but they did,they truly looked after my welfare. One bloke got battered for shouting ( gets your tits out ) to me as I walked across the prison yard. Aw!!! I felt awful for him. aw!!

I don’t know on the tour, what they actually tell you about the Pendle Witches. Id love to know being a Pendle girl. Pendle Hill was the main view and focas of my life as I was growing up.I could see it out of my bedroom window.Maybe one day I’ll do the tour.

The actually cell that the witches were kept in is in the maintance bit of the prison,in the Castel. Working there I had a little clout on my movements around it.It’s where them maintance men keep all their maintance stuff…I don’t know what like,screwdrivers and paint brushes I quess.They have their little brew room their to where they hang their coats up and drink tea and gossip.

WELL…Did I give them something to gossip about one day.

Do you want to hear a little story…..I’d been nattering for months to go and see the Pendle Witches cell. Honest to go for months. I wouldn’t let up. Shit man, It was just a stone throw away, just down a few dark dingy corridors. Anyway Mr. Nice Maintance Man was working this particular morning. SO….Diane makes her move.I was saying stuff like. “PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,you don’t know how much this means to me. I’m a Pendle Girl and I could see the hill from my bedroom”.Well he jangled his keys ( I wonder why men in prisons like doing that ), looked at me an smiled and said …Come on then.

I have to say I didn’t like walking thro the maintance men’s tea room with all the men there on their break. I’d rather walk thro a room with all the men who were in prison.

Anyway we get to the cell.I’m well excited. Don’t forget many people won’t have ever seen this cell. It’s not in the tourist bit. He open’s the door and shine’s his tourch in it. YES!! There was no big WOW!No bolt of lightening. It was just a very small cell.I couldn’t see very well it was so dark.

I say…”Come on” he looks at me stupid and says “WHAT!, you’ve no fucking chance”I say “NO!! Come on..I just want to examine it”He wasn’t having it. So I say… ” RIGHT!! well you shine the torch for me as I go in and have a look”. He agreed to do that.

I actually skip into the cell, I’m well ecxited I’ve actually got to this point after months of trying to get here.

BUT!!!!

Once in the cell. OH MY GOD!!!!The nice man is shinning the torch for me and I see the shackles on the wall.

 THE SHACKLES THAT THE PENDLE WITCHES WERE IN.

SO!!! I have this strong compulsion or what ever it was to put myself in these shackles. The shackles were quite small,the ladies must have been quite tiny. So!! I get both my wrists in these very small shackles and feel and get very passionate about it.Well you would wouldn’t you. I start to make all these you know ( funny noises ) like 000ooo!!!!! Aw!!!!! like Oh My God noises.Just WOW!! noises.

I wasn’t making passionate, the other passionate noises (I’m not that sick yet I don’t think ) BUT!!! I think that man thought I was. He was giving me such strange looks, looking back,and I got gossiped about  it for months, I bet I still do today. :)

I’m actually laughing so much here writing this. That poor man. What must he have thought of me. Me in the Pendle Witches cell in their shackles making all these ( funny ) noises.

Anyway in this very small cell is a well with the most beautiful clear blue crystal water in the bottom….I have a little bit of ( tat) in my pocket.I think it was just a little bit of papaer or something. I thro it in the well and say a little prayer. Praying for all the magic and love to continue.

The man is getting irritable now.!!! I have to go. I didn’t want to. I wanted him to lock me in for the afternoon and open me up at 5 , home time. I pick up a few bits and bobs, rotten wood and brick and put them saftly in my pocket.

I have them today in my crystal bowl with all my other very special,wonderful,spiritual,magical stuff.

I feel very honoured and privalaged that I got allowed to experience that. DO you know what….I’ve not really spoke about it for years, however I did to a lovely girl Dawn I met at waveform who was at the festival Shamania Up Pendle Hill.She kinda just made me relaise just how special that was and to treasure that for ever.

I WILL DO….

Magic and Love to all today.