Tuesday, October 29, 2024

‘Staggering array’ of witches’ marks discovered at English Heritage site


Nadia Khomami 
Arts and culture correspondent
Tue 29 October 2024 
THE GUARDIAN

English Heritage volunteer Rick Berry discovered witches’ marks and rare curses carved into the walls of the Tudor property once visited by Henry VIII and his fifth Queen, Catherine Howard.Photograph: English Heritage

As English Heritage welcomes thousands of visitors over the Halloween period, a new discovery has made Gainsborough Old Hall in Lincolnshire a clear contender for the spookiest site of them all.

The charity has uncovered a “staggering array” of witches’ marks and rare curses carved into the walls of the Tudor property, once visited by Henry VIII and his fifth Queen, Catherine Howard.

Rick Berry, a volunteer at English Heritage, discovered and mapped about 20 ritual protection, or apotropaic, marks – among the most identified at any of the charity’s 400 sites.

Witches’ marks were traditionally made to turn away evil, providing protection to buildings and those who lived or worked within them against demons, witches or the evil eye.


Berry discovered a particular concentration of marks in the Old Hall’s servants’ wing, including flowers with six petals carved within a simple circle – known as daisy wheels and hexafoils – that were believed to trap demons.

There were also overlapping letter Vs, or Marian marks, believed to call on the Virgin Mary for protection, as well as a pentangle, which, despite modern connotations, was originally used to protect against evil. There were about 100 burn marks, believed to protect against fire.

The research also revealed a number of curse inscriptions, something unprecedented at an English Heritage site.

The hall’s surviving structures were built by Sir Thomas Burgh II in the late 15th century, and the property was the seat of the Burghs from 1430 to 1596, before being sold to a merchant family, the Hickmans, who resided there until around 1730.

It is believed the curse inscriptions were made around the time that the merchant William Hickman owned the property, owing to his notorious unpopularity. In one inscription, Hickman’s name is written upside down (the practice of defaming a name was thought to curse the named person).

According to English Heritage, Hickman was a ruthless businessman, asserting his rights as the owner of the manor and manipulating his authority to maximise his control and income.

He enclosed areas of common land, contested local market rights, levied tolls on river goods, and sought to open up the Gainsborough market to traders from London. One complainant called him a “threadbare fellow”.

Kevin Booth, the head of collections at English Heritage, said: “It is astonishing that centuries on the amazing old buildings in our care still have secrets waiting to be discovered.

“The Old Hall has undoubtedly had a tumultuous past, not least under the ownership of the apparently unpopular William Hickman, but why it’s the scene of quite such a high concentration of protective carvings remains a mystery.”

Despite the apotropaic marks, there have been a number of ghostly sightings at the hall. Many believe it is haunted by Elizabeth Burgh, Sir Thomas Burgh II’s daughter.

The story goes that Elizabeth was ready to run away with her lover, a poor soldier or servant, when her father found out about their plans and locked Elizabeth away in one of the rooms. She died shortly after from a broken heart, and her tortured soul still haunts the hall in search of her lover. People have reported seeing her ghost emanating from the Tower Room.

Other English Heritage sites where protective carvings have already been identified include Boscobel House and The Royal Oak, Bolsover Castle, Kirby Hall, Harmondsworth Barn, Stokesay Castle, Audley End and Deal Castle.

Volunteer discovers ‘astonishing’ array of witches marks at English Heritage site

Joe Middleton
Tue 29 October 2024 at 4:09 am GMT-6·2-min read
THE INDEPENDENT

Rick Berry found around 20 carvings (English Heritage)

A “staggering array” of witches marks have been found carved into the walls at an English Heritage site.

The discovery at Gainsborough Old Hall in Lincolnshire was made by volunteer Rick Berry, who mapped around 20 carvings at the Tudor property, that was once visited by Henry VIII and his fifth queen, Catherine Howard.

Mr Berry spent two years identifying the apotropaic marks, sometimes called witches marks – the most found at any of the charity’s 400 sites.

Gainsborough Old Hall in Lincolnshire (English Heritage)


Overlapping Vs or Marian marks, which are believed by some to call on the Virgin Mary for protection (English Heritage)


The long-time volunteer found a wide variety of designs including overlapping Vs, or “Marian marks”, which are believed by some to call on the Virgin Mary for protection, and a pentangle, which was originally used to protect against evil.

Mr Berry also discovered rare curse inscriptions, thought to have been made around the time that William Hickman owned the property from 1596.

In one inscription, Mr Hickman’s name is written upside down. The practice of defacing a name was widely believed to curse the named person and is something not seen before at any English Heritage site, the charity said.

As well as the carvings, there were around 100 burn marks that are believed to be for protection against fire.

A rare curse inscription made against William Hickman who previously owned Gainsborough Old Hall (English Heritage)


A pentangle, which was originally used to protect against evil (English Heritage)

English Heritage’s Kevin Booth said: “It is astonishing that, centuries on, the amazing old buildings in our care still have secrets waiting to be discovered.

“The Old Hall has undoubtedly had a tumultuous past, not least under the ownership of the apparently unpopular William Hickman, but why it’s the scene of quite such a high concentration of protective carvings remains a mystery.

“We have a great team of volunteers across the country and it is testament to Rick’s passion for the place that these incredible protection marks have been found at Gainsborough.

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