Witches' markings: Public urged to check their house for strange symbols carved into the walls

The strange symbols are known as 'apotropaic marks' and have been found in some of the most important buildings in England

Andrew Griffin
Monday 31 October 2016 09:33 GMT
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Gilles of Binche surround a performer dressed as witch as they take part in a procession during the annual medieval festival, the Ommegang, at Brussels' Grand Place July 3, 2014
Gilles of Binche surround a performer dressed as witch as they take part in a procession during the annual medieval festival, the Ommegang, at Brussels' Grand Place July 3, 2014

People might have strange "witch markings" carved into the walls of their house and not even know it.

The public are being asked to look for the unusual symbols in their houses as part of a Halloween effort launched by the government.

The markings have previous been found in historic buildings including the house where Shakespeare was born and the Tower of London. They're thought to have been used as a protection symbol, keeping the people inside the house safe from witches and other threats, and tend to be come from a time when belief in the supernatural was widespread.

But a full record of where the symbols appear has never been taken, and so it isn't clear how common they are or where they tend to appear. As such, Historic England has asked the public to look out the for the symbols, and submit any information or pictures that they find so that they can be better understood.

The symbols are known as apotropaic marks and tend to be carved into stone or woodwork near entrances like doorways, windows and fireplaces. IT's thought that they would then ward off witches and evil spirits from entering, keeping the people inside safe.

Markings ranged from a "daisy wheel", the most common type of mark which looks like a flower drawn with a compass, in a single endless line that was supposed to confuse and entrap evil spirits, to "Solomon's knots" and pentangles.

Often they take the form of letters such as AM for Ave Maria, M for Mary or VV, for Virgin of Virgins, scratched into medieval walls, engraved on wooden beams and etched into plaster work to evoke the protective power of the Virgin Mary.

The marks can be found in medieval houses, churches and other buildings, most commonly from around 1550 to 1750.

Known examples include several found at Shakespeare's Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, where they are carved near the cellar door where precious beer would have been stored, to the Tithe Barn, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, to protect crops.

Some have been found in caves, such as the Witches' Chimney at Wookey Hole, Somerset, which has numerous markings.

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Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: "Witches' marks are a physical reminder of how our ancestors saw the world. They really fire the imagination and can teach us about previously-held beliefs and common rituals.

"Ritual marks were cut, scratched or carved into our ancestors' homes and churches in the hope of making the world a safer, less hostile place.

"They were such a common part of everyday life that they were unremarkable and because they are easy to overlook, the recorded evidence we hold about where they appear and what form they take is thin.

"We now need the public's help to create a fuller record of them and better understand them."

Additional reporting by Press Association

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