Witch post

By placing the St Andrew's cross on one of the fireplace posts or lintels, witches are thought to be prevented from entering through this opening.

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 17th century, supported the smoke-hood of the inglenook fireplace.

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.

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, West Yorkshire.

With a dozen scrolls, it was from the Old Shoemaker’s Shop at Danby-in-Cleveland and his letter, dated 5 March 1892, describes it as ‘the (assumed) witch post’.

They essentially consist of carving on one of the posts supporting the inglenook of the cottage, always including a St. Andrew's Cross, although this example makes me think more of the Roman-period chi-rho monogram.

At some point it was converted into a private residence and it was probably during this process that a “witch-post” was added to the hearth to deflect the influence of baleful magic known as maleficium.

Chimneys and fireplaces were regarded as a vulnerable location by which witches could gain access to a house and so to the superstitious mind, demanded such apotropaic contingencies.