Mark Fuller retweetledi
For centuries, people in England carved symbols into their homes to keep witches out.
These “witch marks” can still be found scratched into medieval door frames, fireplaces, beams and church walls across the country.
Some are over 400 years old.
One of the most common symbols was the overlapping “VV” mark.
It stood for Virgo Virginum, meaning “Virgin of Virgins”. A reference to the Virgin Mary believed to offer protection from evil.
Others took the form of daisy wheels, labyrinth patterns, burn marks, circles and endless interlocking lines.
People believed the carved patterns could trap, confuse or distract evil spirits before they crossed the threshold of the home.
Doorways and fireplaces were especially common locations because people believed spirits entered through openings.
Many date from the 1500s or earlier, during periods of deep fear surrounding witchcraft and the supernatural.
For centuries these symbols were ignored or mistaken for random scratches.
Now they are recognised as part of England’s folk history.
Small symbols cut into old timber and stone, carrying echoes of England’s forgotten fears across the centuries.
Have you spotted any in an old building?
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#England #EnglishHistory #EnglishHeritage #WitchMarks #FolkLore
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