The Pendle area is associated with the now notorious trial of the Lancashire Witches recounted in a famous book by Thomas Potts in 1613. One of the accused was Alice Nutter from Roughlee who was described as "a rich woman of great estate and children of good hope .. from envy of malice". Why a woman of such high status was accused is unclear but she was found guilty and executed with others at Lancaster on 20th August 1612.