Research Reveals 'Witch Marks' on English Walls Are Stonecutters' Practice, Not Magic
For years, circular engravings, geometric flowers, and strange symbols found on walls of old churches, houses, and barns across England were believed to be "witch marks", protective signs meant to ward off evil spirits and demons. However, Professor Jennifer Alexander, an architectural historian at the University of Warwick and author of Stonemasons' Marks, challenges this interpretation. In an article published in The Guardian, she argues these marks are not magical symbols but rather practical stonecutters' marks used for training and work.
The most recognized of these marks, known as daisy wheels or hexafoils, resemble six-petaled flowers and were often found near doorways, fireplaces, and other symbolically significant spots. Alexander explains these shapes are similar to geometric drawings made with a compass, commonly practiced by apprentices learning to carve stone. She points out the varying skill levels in the marks suggest they were exercises rather than consistent symbolic signs.
While England has a history of apotropaic symbols intended to repel evil, including letters and repeated shapes documented by organizations like Historic England and English Heritage, Alexander cautions against automatically labeling every geometric engraving as a witch mark. She emphasizes that such assumptions overlook important historical insights into how buildings were constructed, who worked on them, and the training methods of craftsmen.
This new perspective does not diminish the fascination with these marks but shifts the focus from superstition to the human story behind them. Marks resembling letters like W or M, previously interpreted as mystical, may have been mason's marks used to identify work or assembly order. Heritage organizations in England have welcomed this research for enriching the understanding of historic structures. Ultimately, many so-called "mysterious" marks on ancient walls may simply be stonecutters' practice sketches rather than protective magic.
