‘Witch marks’ in ‘doorway to Hell’ cave were supposed to trap evil
EVEN in bright sunshine, the dark, craggy entrance to Robin Hood’s cave at Creswell Crags, on the border of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, has an ominous sense of foreboding.
But for hundreds of years the cavern has held an even more sinister secret. It was once believed to be the entrance to the underworld, which held demons so terrifying that locals carved protective “witch marks” to bind them inside.
Until recently it was thought that the marks, believed to date from the 18th century or earlier, were graffiti.
But last year, members of the Subterranea Britannica caving group were taking a tour when they spotted the distinctive shape of two letter Vs crossed, representing the phrase “Virgin of Virgins”, a plea to Mary for help.
Experts were astonished to find hundreds of similar marks, including boxes and mazes believed to be “folk magic” devices for trapping evil.
Towards the back of the cave, a 4ftwide hole descends into the darkness and the marks reach a crescendo.
“These marks were either to keep something in, or to keep something out” said Paul Baker, the director of Creswell Crags. “I think ... this hole was blamed or associated with a series of events, illnesses or crop failures.”
John Charlesworth, a heritage facilitator and tour leader, added: “These marks are a kind of folk magic and the hole in the ground may have represented some kind of Pandora’s Box.”