A WITCHES’ mark has been discovered at Lanteglos Church, revealing a rich past of the quaint church near Camelford.

As renovation work continues at the ancient site of St Jullita’s Church in Lanteglos-by-Camelford, John Barber Pearce of the Friends of Lanteglos Church reported on the unusual finding.

The mark, resembling ‘W C17’ in a carving, was discovered inside the stair turret at the very top of the church tower.

Two ‘v’s cross over each other to form the ‘W’, which John has reported is a ‘classic witches’ mark, also known as an ‘apotropiac mark’ — in other words, a warning-off mark.

These markings are typical of the period between 1650 and 1700. Usually carved in an area of a building where a witch may enter, we wonder whether there were any known witches in the area at the time of the 17th or 18th centuries to give reason for the carving.

Can you shed any light on the marking? Email [email protected] or phone 01566 778212