John A. Clayton

As a qualified local historian and broadcaster I have found that the more I delve into the lives of our forebears the more I had need to adopt the discipline of archaeology. This being the case I studied as a landscape archaeologist and have found the skills required for this to be invaluable in the search for the lives of those who created the society in which we live.

I have a wide interest in the history of my birthright - The Forest of Pendle in East Lancashire. I have been writing books on the history of my district for around ten years now. 'The Valley of the Drawn Sword' covered the early beginnings of the area to the Norman conquest and the demand for this title over the years has been very pleasing.

The largest project I have undertaken was the research and publication of 'The Lancashire Witch Conspiracy: A History of Pendle Forest and the Pendle Witch Trials'. This kept me busy for a couple of years and the finished product turned out to a 'best-seller' in terms of local history publications - it is still viewed by many as the reference book on the subject.

However, as with all dynamic principals, the research of any historical matter moves on. I spent the winter of 2010, and the spring of 2011, researching and advising the production of the BBC4 film 'The Pendle Witch Child' (aired 17th August 2011)and I'm pleased to say that the programme has been exceptionally well received.

Out of this new research came an up-to-date book to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the 1612 pendle Witch Trials of 1612. The new book, 'The Pendle Witch Fourth Centenary Handbook', contains much of the new material that has come to light through a combination of historical research and landscape archaeology.The new title sits well with its predecessor and the two can be easily cross-referenced.

Throughout 2013 I ran an archaeological survey project covering the East Lancashire districts of Burnley and Pendle and the fascinating results of this have now been published (summer 2014) as two books - Burnley and Pendle Archaeology Parts One and Two. These cover the subject area to the Middle Bronze Age and from the Middle Bronze Age to the end of the British Iron Age.