Mary Pannell, who died in 1603, also recorded as Pannel or Pannall, was associated with witchcraft at Ledston HallGrade I listed former country house in West Yorkshire, now divided into residences. in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Other than that very little is known about her, although several unsubstantiated versions of her story exist.

According to Edward Parsons in 1834, William Witham of Ledston Hall, who died in 1593, was killed “in consequence of the diabolical incantations of an unfortunate being called Mary Pannel”.^[1] One version of the story suggests that Mary provided a mixture meant to be rubbed on the young William’s chest to cure his illness, but his mother instead gave it to him to drink, resulting in his death.^[2]

Ten years after William’s death, Mary was tried for witchcraft at York and sentenced to death.^[1] The manner of her execution in 1603 is uncertain; she may have been hanged at York, or burned in the woods just outside Castleford that bear her name, which she is now said to haunt.^[2]