Historic England Video Witches Marks
With some of the marks dating from Medieval times, they are worth taking notice of. Generally, the `Witches Marks’, as they are known, were engraved on doorways and hearths. The most common daisy wheel designs were made with a compass and many are centuries old.
One example, at Witches Chimney in Wookey Hole, Somerset, is the largest concentration inside a cave. We feature these and some from inside a tithe barn in Bradford on Avon, Somerset in our video.
Halloween-It’s Not All About Trick or Treating
Of course, this time of year is generally about costumes and trick or treating. But Halloween can actually be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.
In fact, this festival marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter; it symbolised the boundary between the world of the living and the world of the dead.
So, the tales enjoyed at this time of year, are tied up with this older celebration as well as English folklore and superstition.
And we can see evidence of those superstitions on hundreds of historic buildings and places around the country in the form of `Witches Marks’.
Historic England and English Heritage – Our Videos
This is our second video for Historic England. Our first, filmed in North Devon at Westward Hoe!, featured two Shipwrecks, preserved on the beach.
And, we have also made videos for English Heritage, which are Historic England’s sister organisation. Both of these organisations aim to preserve our heritage through their actions and campaigning.
