(CNN) – Just days ahead of Halloween, a spooky discovery was made at an old house in England.
An array of carvings called “witches’ marks” were found on the walls of the Gainsborough Old Hall in Lincolnshire, which was built in 1460.
The marks, dating back to the year 1596, are believed to be a ritual aimed to fend off evil spirits and witches.
These markings were discovered by English Heritage, a charity that looks after hundreds of historic sites.
A spokesperson said the building has a tumultuous past.
They believe a curse was put on the former owner, whose name was found written upside down.
They said defacing a person’s name was believed to be a way to curse that person.
About 100 burn marks, which are thought to protect against fire, were also uncovered at the property.
Experts say similar signs were scribed into churches, homes and caves to ward off sickness, death or poor harvests.
The marks are usually found carved into stone or wood, usually near entrances, doors, windows and fireplaces.
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