Dog sculpture inspired by the story of the Pendle Witches unveiled in this town

A new sculpture of a large dog has been unveiled in Clitheroe to help tell the story of the Pendle witches in a new way.

The sculpture, titled ‘Dandy’, is made of steel and has been installed on Station Road, at the top of the steps of Booths store in Clitheroe.

It was unveiled by the Mayor of Clitheroe during a small ceremony on May 16.

Mayor of Clitheroe unveils Dandy sculpture (Image: Derren Lee Poole)To keep the story alive and relevant for younger children, a group from the Ella Shaw Arts Academy will perform a poem on the evening, specially written by local poet Alison McNulty, to give ‘voice to the dog’.

The artist Marjan Wouda is at the origin of the creation. Its installation marks the end of a long journey that began with Marjan’s idea to tell the story of the Pendle witches in a new way.

Over time, many people and organizations got involved, helped “bring Dandy up” and secured the funding needed to have the work permanently installed in the city.

The Dutch-born designer was inspired by stories like that of the young James Device during his trial in 1612.

James admitted to having a “familiar” in the form of a black dog he named Dandy.

At that time, witches were believed to be assisted by a supernatural spirit; it is often said that it takes the form of an animal.

Unveiling of the Dandy sculpture in Clitheroe (Image: Derren Lee Poole)

Clitheroe Castle itself most likely played a role in history as a stopover for those on their way to Lancaster Prison.

Margaret Pearson, one of the 12 accused in 1612, also called the Padiham witch, was convicted of bewitching a horse and forced to stand in the pillory at Clitheroe.

Marjan talks about animal knowledge as being a constant subject in her work. Growing up on a dairy farm and having a deep connection with animals, she has incorporated them into her artistic production where they remain a deep source of interest.

She said: “Our stories are testament to these intertwined lives, and here in Lancashire we have plenty of them, from giant cows and cats to talking hares and dogs.

“The Dandy sculpture invites us to celebrate what makes this city, in this landscaped setting, unique. »

Booths supported the idea of ​​a sculpture for Clitheroe from the outset, offering a location as well as funding for its installation.

Edwin Booth, chairman of Booths, said: “My family has a history in Lancashire stretching back over 200 years and we value the heritage of our county.

“We hope Dandy’s story will spark interest and enjoyment among local families and visitors to Clitheroe.”

Residents and businesses across Clitheroe and Ribble Valley have brought Dandy to life thanks to a crowdfunding campaign led by Clitheroe Chamber of Commerce.

The project was coordinated by a group of local enthusiasts who attracted additional funding from: Lancashire County Council, Clitheroe Chamber of Commerce and Commerce, Clitheroe Town Council, Houldsworth Solicitors, Hargreaves Contracting, Anderton Bosonnet Estate Agents , Arts Council England, Ribble Valley Borough. Council, Clitheroe Civic Society and other organizations and individuals.

In addition to securing the sculpture for the city and covering all installation-related expenses, the crowdfund commissioned an educational kit to distribute to local schools, as well as publicity materials to encourage tourists to discover it.

Simon Entwistle, local tour guide and storyteller, said: “To my knowledge, this is the only public sculpture of a familiar.

“The belief that the ‘cunning people’ were assisted by a spiritual creature in the form of a man or animal is key to the story of the Pendle witches.

“Representing this in the form of a sculpture is a very original way to engage people.”