Witch Marks not so scary

Witch Marks and Inglenook Beams: Echoes of Superstition in Sussex, Kent, and Surrey

16th Century Witch Mark from a customer

In historic homes across Sussex, Kent, and Surrey, faint carvings etched into old fireplace timbers reveal a time when fear of the supernatural shaped daily life. These witch marks, or apotropaic symbols, were carved into oak bressummer beams above inglenook fireplaces to ward off evil spirits and protect the hearth.

Inglenooks and Their Beams

Inglenook fireplaces—with their deep recesses and wide openings—were common in modest English homes from the late 15th to the 17th century. Central to cooking and warmth, they featured large oak bressummer beams that supported the chimney breast. In timber-rich regions like Sussex, Kent, and Surrey, these beams were often reclaimed and rustic, dating from the Tudor (1485–1603) to early Georgian (1714–1830) periods.

Can you spot the mark?

The Witch Marks

Witch marks were carved near entry points for air—and spirits—including chimneys. Common motifs included:

• Daisy wheels (hexafoils): Circular designs meant to trap evil.

• Marian marks (VV or AM): Invocations of the Virgin Mary.

• Interlocking circles and crosses: Patterns to confuse malevolent forces.

These symbols were often added during construction or later by occupants seeking protection. In a draughty 16th-century cottage, such marks offered comfort against unseen threats.

A Legacy in Timber

Today, these carvings remain as quiet testaments to early modern beliefs. Across Sussex, Kent, and Surrey, bressummer beams still bear these marks—reminders that even the most ordinary architectural features can hold extraordinary stories.