'Astonishing' witches' marks discovered at heritage site - including curses

[Still Waters]

A "staggering array" of witches' marks have been found at Gainsborough Old Hall, including "curse" inscriptions aimed at its old owner.

A volunteer for English Heritage, which looks after the Lincolnshire site, has discovered and mapped about 20 carvings at the Tudor property over the past two years - among the most found at any of the charity's 400 sites.

The witches' marks, also known as carved ritual protection or apotropaic marks, include rare curse inscriptions, which the charity said must have been made around the time that merchant William Hickman owned the property, from 1596.

https://news.sky.com/story/astonishing-witches-marks-discovered-at-heritage-site-including-curses-13243982

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/oct/29/witches-marks-discovered-english-heritage-gainsborough-old-hall