Pendle Hill
‘…finest view in all of England’ – Queen Mary from Downham Church
Before the Church the Queen proclaimed:
‘the finest view in all of England’ –
meaning the royal view from there
towards the imposing hill
known thereabouts as Mistress Pendle.
The Queen observed the track
hard athwart the slanting summit,
angled down the northern flank –
the track the Pendle Witches took
to their final day of judgement.
The Queen imagined the sorry scene –
the party picking its way
along that lonely hillside track
down to the chattering duck-filled stream below
where yokels and toffs had collected
to see for themselves
this latest catch.
Mistress Pendle oft drifts in
and out of view
through fogs and drizzles
but on this glorious day in local history
bathed in royal lawn and party blue
and straw hat sunshine
the prospect was much more than fine.
* Gwilym Williams is a regular IS&T contributor. The Queen Mary referred to in this poem is the one who was married to King George V and had the ocean liner named after her – not 'Bloody' Mary Tudor who had people burned at the stake in the 16th century. Gwilym adds “There's a plaque on the wall by the entrance to the church with the quotation and date of the royal visit etc. inscribed thereon. Downham is really a nice spot. They made a famous film there once. Whistle Down the Wind with Hayley Mills. I was about 13 at the time and I think I was in love with her!”
