An apotropaic mark, also called a witch mark or anti-witch mark, is a symbol or pattern scratched on the walls, beams and thresholds of buildings to protect them from

witchcraft Witchcraft traditionally means the use of magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually women who were believed to have ...

or evil spirits. They have many forms; in Britain they are often flower-like patterns of overlapping circles.

Marks on buildings

Apotropaic marks (from Greek ''apotrepein'' "to ward off" from ''apo-'' "away" and ''trepein'' "to turn") are symbols or patterns scratched into the fabric of a building with the intention of keeping witches out through

apotropaic magic Apotropaic magic (from Greek "to ward off") or protective magic is a type of magic intended to turn away harm or evil influences, as in deflecting misfortune or averting the evil eye. Apotropaic observances may also be practiced out of supers ...

. Evil was thought to be held at bay through a wide variety of apotropaic objects such as amulets and

talisman A talisman is any object ascribed with religious or magical powers intended to protect, heal, or harm individuals for whom they are made. Talismans are often portable objects carried on someone in a variety of ways, but can also be installed perm ...

s against the

evil eye The Evil Eye ( grc, ὀφθαλμὸς βάσκανος; grc-koi, ὀφθαλμὸς πονηρός; el, (κακό) μάτι; he, עַיִן הָרָע, ; Romanian: ''Deochi''; it, malocchio; es, mal de ojo; pt, mau-olhado, olho gordo; ar ...

. Marks on buildings were one application of this type of belief. Other types of mark include the intertwined letters V and M or a double V (for the protector, the

Virgin Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of ...

, alias ''Virgo Virginum''), and crisscrossing lines to confuse any spirits that might try to follow them. At the Bradford-on-Avon Tithe Barn, a flower-like pattern of overlapping circles is incised into a stone in the wall. Similar marks of overlapping circles have been found on a window sill dated about 1616 at

Owlpen Manor Owlpen Manor is a Tudor Grade I listed manor house of the Mander family, situated in the village of Owlpen in the Stroud district in Gloucestershire, England. There is an associated estate set in a valley within the Cotswold Area of Outstandi ...

in Gloucestershire, as well as

taper burn mark Taper burn marks are deep flame shaped scorch marks often found on the timber beams of early modern houses. They were originally thought to have been accidental, but research suggests that most marks may have been made deliberately, as there is c ...

s on the jambs of a medieval door frame. The marks are most common near places where witches were thought to be able to enter, whether doors, windows or chimneys. For example, during works at

Knole Knole () is a country house and former archbishop's palace owned by the National Trust. It is situated within Knole Park, a park located immediately to the south-east of Sevenoaks in west Kent. The house ranks in the top five of England's lar ...

, near Sevenoaks in Kent, in 1609, oak beams beneath floors, particularly near fireplaces, were scorched and carved with scratched witch marks to prevent witches and demons from coming down the chimney. Marks have been found in buildings including

Knole House Knole () is a country house and former archbishop's palace owned by the National Trust. It is situated within Knole Park, a park located immediately to the south-east of Sevenoaks in west Kent. The house ranks in the top five of England's larg ...

Shakespeare's Birthplace Shakespeare's Birthplace is a restored 16th-century half-timbered house situated in Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, where it is believed that William Shakespeare was born in 1564 and spent his childhood years.

in Stratford-upon-Avon, the

Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is sep ...

, and many churches, but little effort has been made to look for them on secular buildings. A collection of over 100 marks - previously thought to be graffiti - was discovered in 2019 on the walls of a cave network at

Creswell Crags Creswell Crags is an enclosed limestone gorge on the border between Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, England, near the villages of Creswell and Whitwell. The cliffs in the ravine contain several caves that were occupied during the last ice age ...

in Nottinghamshire.

References

{{reflist, 30em Anthropology of religion Magic symbols Folklore Objects believed to protect from evil

Marks on buildings

See also

References