Samlesbury

Samlesbury is an attractive little village in the rural South Ribble borough of Lancashire, England. Salmesbury is home to Samlesbury Hall — a grade I listed medieval manor house which was built in 1325 and attracts half a million visitors per year. Another interesting feature is the church of Saint Leonard the Less in nearby Walton-le-Dale. The church was founded in 1096 and contains a Norman tub font, a medieval bell and a funerary armour dating from 1546, which belonged to the late Sir Thomas Southworth. Some slightly more recent features include: a church chest, a two-decker pulpit and a complete set of box pews dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. The name of Samlesbury means "ledge fortification", and is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "sceamol", for ledge and "burh" for fortification.

Samlesbury was also home to three of the witches tried at the time of the Pendle Witch Trials. Jane Southworth, Jennet Brierley, and Ellen Brierley — known as The Samlesbury witches — were tried at Lancaster Assizes on 19 August 1612 accused of the murder and cannibalisation of children. All three were found not guilty in a trial described by one historian as "largely a piece of anti-Catholic propaganda". The Pendle Witches were less fortunate and having been found guilty were then hanged.

Although the village offers many historical features and country walks, it is also ideally located for access to the major cities and tourist resorts of Lancashire, including several theme parks, conservation areas and children's activities.