Saturday 8 October: Finding witch marks at Cresswell Crags

 

Ready to explore Robin Hoods Cave; site of the biggest collection of witch marks in the UK.

 Discovered in 2018:  Research: Guardian article

Witch marks (Apotropiac marks ) were carved into the cave's surface as a protective ritual.  They're often found inside the doorways of houses to stop evil from getting in.  In this instance, it's believed that people were trying to protect themselves by trapping evil inside the cave, in order to prevent them from leaving and getting to the nearby village, where they might harm children, animals or crops.

It was believed that the caves harboured bad spirits because they were dark and unknown. Any cool air that ran through the caves was recognised as a cold "draft" and associated as a sign of a bad omen,

These marks extend into another cave where ice age carved art has been found. A deer was mistakenly identified as a goat so a protection symbol has been added next to the drawing to trap the evil in. The apotropaic marks don't cross the original line drawing and this could have released it.

Ronald Hutton was a visitor to the site: Currently readying his book "The Witch"

The marks are based on religious beliefs. 

The amount of visibility when the marks were made, which could be an indication of why there are so many next to each other as you'd not of been able to see them all collectively with an electric light.

The marks made me think of Paula Regos image of the bride surrounded by images related to pagan traditions.  Made me consider creating work of a young girl surrounded by witch marks to indicate that these Patriarchal (Christian) fears of the natural world, creep into the psyche of females from a young age. 

                                  Paula Rego. Straw Burning 1996. Etching and aquatint on paper.

I came away from the visit with some postcard references - the following images are from the Cresswell Crags postcards and a zine made in response to the marks. 

Mother Grundy was referenced on the cave tour which interests me as the apotropaic cave markings are very Christian in symbolism  - but the area acknowledges a person or origin from else  - where 

Grundy is a reoccurring term (Madre

 grande in Spanish)  Grundy is “as old as the hills” and has a more of a nature centric connection which l read as an indication that there were matriarchs -  that did not want to let go of the old ways, fobbed off as Mrs Whitehouse or Karen, yet still significant to be remembered through “reference.”

Led me to look for the story of mother grundy who is said to have been outcast from cresswell village for suspected witchcraft. She took to living in he gorge.  A landowners child became ill, - from possibly eating the wrong berries -and mother grundy cured them. The villagers asked her to return but she declined and chose to continue living in the gorge.