AS archaeological finds go, this was truly bewitching.
Engineers working on a reservoir discovered a 17th century witches’ cottage under a grass mound, with a mummified cat sealed into the walls.
The cottage – in remarkably good condition – nestles in the shadow of Pendle Hill in Lancashire, one of Britain’s most notorious witching hotspots.
Local historians believe it could be the lost Malkin Tower – the site of a notorious meeting of the Pendle witches on Good Friday, 1612. Expert Simon Entwistle said: “It’s like discovering Tutankhamun’s tomb. We are just a few months away from the 400th anniversary of the Pendle witch trials, and here we have an incredibly rare find, right in the heart of witching country. This could well be the famous Malkin Tower – which has been a source of speculation and rumour for centuries.
“Cats feature prominently in folklore about witches. Whoever consigned this cat to such a horrible fate was seeking protection from evil spirits.”
Water firm United Utilities had been undertaking work on the Lower Black Moss reservoir in the village of Barley.
Manager Carl Sanders said: “Pendle Hill has a real aura about it. Even before we discovered the building, there were jokes from the lads about broomsticks and black cats. The find has stunned us all.”
Frank Giecco, from NP Archaeology, said: “It’s like discovering your own little Pompeii. There are layers of history before your eyes.”