The public is being encouraged to help map Britain’s historic obsession with the paranormal by searching for ancient scratchings in old buildings, used as charms against witchcraft and evil spirits. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Witches’ marks on a barn door in Laxfield, Suffolk. Photograph: Conceal RevealHistoric England’s historic buildings inspector, Nick Molyneux, said: “More efficient oil lamps in the 19th century seem finally to have banished witches. “Basically the marks have been recorded where people have taken the trouble to go and look for them. The witches’ marks are properly known as apotropaic marks, from the Greek word for avoiding evil.

Source: The Guardian October 31, 2016 00:00 UTC