We’ve discovered six tiny symbols stamped into the original 17th-century cupboard bolts in our house - each one a Butterfly Cross, a form of apotropaic (protective) symbol. These marks were believed to ward off evil or misfortune and are more commonly referred to as witches’ marks. Apotropaic symbols are usually carved into wood or stone near thresholds like doors, windows, or fireplaces - places where harmful forces were thought to enter. But surviving examples on ironmongery seems to be less c

We recently discovered Apotropaic ‘Witches’ marks’ forged onto the old cupboard bolts here at The Great House, dating to around 1690. Despite their name, Witch marks actually have very little to do with witches or witchcraft! The word ‘Apotropaic’ comes from the Greek for “to turn away,” and these marks were thought to repel evil influences - witches, demons, or the dreaded “evil eye.” Most common from the 16th to the early 19th century, people often carved such symbols near doorways, on furnitu

What do you do to protect against witches? Well, throughout history, and especially the 17th and 18th centuries people have hidden objects (along other practices) near any entrance in a building where they feared bad things could get out. Researchers like June Swann (who wrote a lot about superstition and apotropaic marks) were able to find out from people still practicing these beliefs was that there were 3 main reasons. They were: Keeping evil out, keeping witches out, and keeping good luck in

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