GOOD TV

[Wendyf]

I wouldn't bother watching it Stanley! I found it very disappointing especially as there was no interview with John. Did you download John's report on the dig at Malkin Tower? I looked for it on his website a couple of weeks back but couldn't find it this time. I'm sure I downloaded it before but it seems to have disappeared.

[Stanley]

It's a PDF Wendy, I'll email you a copy......

Done......

[Wendyf]

Thank you!

[Stanley]

[Wendyf]

John is fairly scathing about the programme in Facebookland and calls it a dumbed down mockumentary. He gave his view to the researchers that Malkin Tower wasn't on that site which didn't go down well!

[Tizer]

I knew nothing about photography until I went to work at Boots Chemists in the 1960s when I had to learn the basics so that I could help customers who wanted to buy a camera or film. The manager of the shop was my tutor and he let me buy a camera on the cheap to get started. At least then I knew most of the right terminology and how to take a decent snap!

[Tripps]

I also was disappointed. I expected to see John Clayton in the piece. Perhaps I missed it, but why did they dig in that particular place? I seemed a very inhospitable location for a family home - even four hundred years ago. Why the name 'Tower'. Rather grand for a family of poverty struck wretches as portrayed. What did they expect to find which would show it was the site of Malkin Tower? Perhaps a sign which used to be on the front door, or a broomstick?

They seemed to have pre -judged the outcome, with references to the 'witches' throughout, and they even concocted a link between finding an 'excessive' number of very common pot shards with possible evidence of witchcraft. Not the highest standards of scientific research I'd say? I kept wanting them to do a double blind dig somewhere else with each team not knowing which site was the favourite. Fanciful I know. Still it was aired on Saturday evening so had to be dumbed down a bit for Channel 5.

I'll dig out John's book and try to answer those questions.

Stanley can you put the PDF you refer to up on here?

PS - perhaps 'Barrowford John could spare us a few minutes of his time to comment?'

[Wendyf]

Here you go Tripps.

1549788548294_MALKIN TOWER FARM 1.pdf

[Tripps]

Many thanks for the Wendyf. John Clayton's knowledge of the subject is awesome, and I don't often use that word. I found his Pendle Witches book heavy going, and he has said it was difficult to write. Lots of new (to me ) words like vaccaries and chantrys etc.

The more I read about the Church's role in history - the less I like it. I count myself fortunate to have been born when I was, and not at almost any other date before, Plenty to think about.

[Stanley]

That's why I read Diarmid MacCulloch's 'A History of Christianity' twice David....
I'm sure John would agree that his main research has never been witches but he came across so much stuff that was related to them and at odds with the current printed 'histories' that he wrote his own account. I prefer his version as it fits in with the wider histories. Diarmid touches on it in 'A History.....'.

[Nolic]

The whole of the programme was poorly set up especially the map that had Pendle located very near Manchester. I had recorded the previous programmes but the decided to delete them. Nolic

[Stanley]

I'll have to have a look at it so I can add an opinion!

[Stanley]

Couldn't access it, Freesat doesn't support Channel 5 catch up...... Never mind, I don't think I have missed much!

[Wendyf]

We can see Channel 5 on our Humax Freesat box by going backwards on the programme guide to the day you want. You can go back 7 days I think.

[Stanley]

Not on mine.... perhaps I need to force an update. If Kev is watching this, what's the default password again?

[Big Kev]

Not on mine.... perhaps I need to force an update. If Kev is watching this, what's the default password again?

It's four zeros
If you can't find the programme in the EPG you can search for it in the On Demand menu.

[PanBiker]

Cant go backwards on mine either, we just use the on demand.

[Wendyf]

Shetland!

[Stanley]

I tried On Demand yesterday and found the Channel 5 site. I watched the witch programme and you are all dead right. Lovely views, empty heads. No wonder John wasn't involved.
Shetland... I was so tired last night I saved it for today, I was in bed at 9PM....

[Wendyf]

Here is the real story of the dig at Malkin Tower Farm.

[Stanley]

Call me an old sceptic but nothing in that film convinced me that there was anything there that you couldn't find in any other location next to an old dwelling site. The locals always said it was located in the Malkin Hole, the clough below Greenbank Farm on the Old Gisburn track, that's just a folk memory but could be a clue. I like folk memory......

[PanBiker]

Cant go backwards on mine either, we just use the on demand.

I actually tried this last night and find that I can go backwards to some degree on the EPG, never actually tried it before. It's still a lot easier to use on demand though

[Tripps]

Thanks for that link Wendyf. Nice to see John Clayton for the first time .

Call me an old sceptic but nothing in that film convinced me that there was anything there that you couldn't find in any other location next to an old dwelling site.

Speaking from my usual position of deep ignorance - that's exactly what i thought.

[Stanley]

That's my stance as well David.
Watched Shetland last night on catch up. Usual high standard I think......

[Stanley]

I was tired last night after a hard day so I was in bed at 21:00. I shall watch last week's Shetland and last night's back to back tonight on catch up, early in the evening so I can give it full attention!