Rare "witch marks" and curse inscriptions have been discovered on the walls of the Gainsborough Old Hall estate in Lincolnshire, UK.
The collection of protective signs consists of so-called "witch signs" and rare curse inscriptions.
The finds were made by researchers from English Heritage , as reported on the organisation's website.
Researchers found a high concentration of protective markings on the walls in the servants' wing.
Among the signs found, simple circles were believed to trap demons, overlapping V's and pentagrams were used to ward off evil.
The rare curse inscriptions discovered date back to the time when the estate was owned by William Hickman.
One of the inscriptions has Hickman's name written upside down, which was considered a curse.
The concentration of protective markers at Gainsborough Old Hall is the largest in English Heritage's collection, according to the trust's senior curator, Kevin Booth.
However, the reason for such a large number of symbols remains unknown.
