‘Witchmarks’ to ward off evil spirits discovered at National Trust house
A bit of good old rural superstition goes a long way and last a long time as this article proves.
Rudimentary scratchmarks etched into the beams of wood at a National Trust property intended to save the life of James I have been discovered.
The mysterious markings were carved into hidden floorboards at Knole, in Kent, in the 17th century, shortly before the king was supposed to visit the home in the wake of the Gunpowder Plot.
Archaeologists believe the “witchmarks” were intended to ward off evil spirits, protecting the monarch in an era of superstition and fear of assassination.
Experts believe the distinctive etchings were a sign of paranoia following the Gunpowder Plot, hailing it a “rare if not unique” discovery.
The witchmarks were discovered at Knole by archaeologists, who were investigating a room built to accommodate royalty as part of ongoing conservation work at the house.