The door of hell? Hundreds of anti-witch brands found in the Midlands Cave | Culture

If there is a portal to hell, a portal of the underworld used by demons and witches to wreak havoc on humanity, it could then find itself in a small cave in the Midlands. the east, convenient for the M1 and A60.

Heritage experts have revealed what appears to be the greatest concentration of apotropaic marks, or symbols to ward off evil or unhappiness, never encountered in the UK.

The marks, at Creswell Crags, a limestone gorge on the border between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, include hundreds of letters, symbols and engraved motifs, at a time when belief in witchcraft was widespread. The scale and variety of marks made on limestone walls and ceiling of a cave that has in its center a deep, dark hole are unparalleled.

Believing to protect themselves from witches and curses, the marks were discovered by chance at the site, which is also home to the only ice age art ever discovered in the UK.

Paul Baker, director of the Creswell Heritage Trust, said the brands were clearly visible. They had known that they were there. "But we told people that it was Victorian graffiti," he said. "We had no idea. Can you imagine how stupid we felt?

Hayley Clark and Ed Waters drew attention to the brand. Both speleologists thought that there were maybe two or three marks; it soon became apparent that there were dozens and then a further investigation up to a thousand. And counting. "They are everywhere," said Baker. "How were they scared?"

There is no public access to the cave but the trust is considering a multimedia presentation for visitors.

Up close, the walls are a remarkable frenzy of brands. Wherever you lead a torch, there are overlapping V's, a reference to Mary, virgin of virgins. There are also PMs, as in Pace Maria, and is crossed Is, referring to Jesus on a cross, and oddly shaped like.

Alison Fearn, an expert from the University of Leicester on protective marks, remembered the first brew on her back in the cave and realized what she was doing. was watching. "I think I said a very nasty word."

The letters and symbols were Christian but should not be examined in this context, she said. From the 16th century to the early 19th century, when people marked witches' marks, there was perhaps a lack of badociation with religion, like today, when people can cross their fingers or say "oh my god". She said, "It just becomes a protective symbol. It was a brand you always made to protect yourself.

What marks kept or did not let in could only be speculated. "It could be fairies, witches, whatever you fear, it's going to be there."

The cave marks are part of local history as the post-medieval village of Creswell was much closer to the caves. The dukes of Portland had moved the village a 20-minute walk through a 19th-century landscape.

John Charlesworth, cave heritage interpreter, said natural landscapes were once considered scary places. "These are places where supernatural forces in an untamed nonhuman environment could be at work. Local people are in the mouth of this monstrous landscape.

Ritualistic marks of protection are most often found in homes and churches, in doors and windows, to ward off evil spirits. They were found in caves but never on this scale.

Creswell Crags made headlines in 2003 with the discovery of glacial rock art works including figures of birds, deer, bison and horses.

The announcement of the latest discovery was made by Creswell Crags and Historic England. Baker acknowledged that witches' brands could attract a new type of visitor.

Ronald Hutton, professor and folklore specialist, said the discovery was extremely important and exciting. "It sounds like the largest bademblage of protection marks ever found in British caves and perhaps anywhere in Britain."