1570 - Mary Pannell Burned As A Witch

Mary Pannell, of Ledston, lived in a small hut and mixed enchantments and made curses and is said to have had dealings with evil spirits. She is said to have bewitched to death William Witham, Esq., of Ledston Hall, in 1593, and was convicted in York in 1603 and put to death by burning on Mary Pannell Hill, on the edge of Castleford.

Local legend has it that Mary was a maid who knew a little about medicine. She gave a lotion to rub on a child's chest for a chill but the mother (an important person of the time) gave it to the child to drink. The lotion killed him and Mary was burned as a witch for it.

Her ghost, leading a horse, is supposed to haunt the Pannell Hill and it is claimed that anybody seeing her will have a death in the family. [Submitted By: John & Carol]

Mary Pannell was tried and executed at York (by hanging), and her body was brought back to be burned on the hill that bears her name. [Submitted By: Louis3]

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