Witch post
A witch post is a local
Observations
One of the more curious features of the central North York Moors of England was the use of so-called witch posts in cottages. Witch post is the fairly modern name for a tall piece of oak wood which, in the seventeenth century, supported the smoke-hood of the inglenook fireplace.[1] It stood on the floor and was incorporated within the structure, being distinguished by carvings on the face near the top. The carvings varied but most included a cross which was shaped like an X. Sometimes there were scroll-like effects beneath the X; on occasions hearts and other designs were incorporated, perhaps with a date. With only one exception, these posts were located in cottages in and around the North York Moors. The exception is one discovered in a house at Rawtenstall in Lancashire. In all cases, they formed part of the structure of the building and the carving was of the style popular in the seventeenth century. Indeed one post in a Glaisdale house bears the date 1664. It is not certain how widespread was the carving of these posts, but surviving examples have been found at Midgley, Glaisdale, Danby, Rosedale, Gillamoor,[2] Farndale, Egton, Goathland, Lealholm and Silpho near Scarborough, a rather compact, if somewhat wild area of the moors. Some have been removed while others remain in situ.
There have only ever been two witches posts found outside the North York Moors, one from Rawtenstall in Lancashire, and one at Great House, Midgley. They were always made of oak and built into the structure of the house as a support for the smokehood above the inglenook fireplace. The posts were carved at the top with varying degrees of complexity, but all the designs included at least one X-shaped cross. Often there were one or more rolls fashioned beneath it.[3] A witch post from Postgate Farm, Glaisdale has the date 1664 carved into it, together with the letters EPIB.
"The witch, in order to gain power over a dwelling house, must go through the house and past the hearth. The door and chimney were the only means of access, but she could not pass the witch post with its cross. Hence it was a defence at the hearth ... a crooked sixpence was kept in a hole at the centre of the post. When the butter would not turn you took a knitting needle, which was kept for the purpose in a groove at the top, and with it got out the sixpence and put it in the churn."[1]
"The name witch post did not appear until the 19th century – Canon
"Witch post,
"Witch Posts. It is thought that they were intended to protect the house or hearth from the influence of witches or prevent them from entering the house. Less than 20 of these carved posts are known, all in north-east Yorkshire, except for one found in Lancashire... The Huntleys fitted new improvement, a chimney and smokehood. The post supporting the smokehood is carved with a St Andrew's cross and several raised bands. This is the witch post."[6]
"As a relatively isolated hilltop village, superstition seems to have endured well into the Twentieth Century in
References
- ^ a b "A Dictionary of English Folklore, edited by Jacqueline Simpson and Steve Roud, Oxford University Press". Answers.com. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ Goodwin, Rosie. "The old Yorkshire witch posts of Ryedale Folk Museum", Museum Crush, October 31. 2019
- ^ "Witch Posts", Ryedale Folk Museum
- ^ "What's on in The North East". Darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ "Witch post, Stang End Cottage, Ryedale Folk Museum". Flickr. 2 April 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ Ellison, D. 1996. "Ryedale Folk Museum: Tour Guide and Souvenir Brochure." Ryedale Folk Museum, Hutton le Hole, York, England. 3rd edition. Pages 16-17.
- ^ ""Curiosities of Barkisland." Published in: Barkisland Folk Traditions, Folklore, Haunted Houses, Haunted Pubs and Witchcraft. February 29, 2012". Lowercalderlegends.wordpress.com. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
Bibliography
- Atkinson, J. C. 1891. Forty years in a moorland parish; reminiscences and researches in Danby in Cleveland. London: Macmillan and Co.
- Ford, Joseph. 1953. Some reminiscences and folk lore of Danby Parish and district. Whitby: Horne & Son.
- Williams, Mary. 1987. Witches in old North Yorkshire. Beverley: Hutton. ISBN 0907033547; 9780907033547.
- Simpson, Jacqueline, and Stephen Roud. 2000. A dictionary of English folklore. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 019210019X; 9780192100191.
External links
- http://www.nicholasrhea.co.uk/author/archives/00000039.html Archived 30 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/leisure/countrymansdiary/8949308.Blessed_houses_marked_with_an_X/
- https://www.flickr.com/photos/forest_pines/5906134110/
- http://www.fromtheotherside.org.uk/guides/past-events/great-house-midgley/