A spooky discovery of a witch's vault of bones, clothing and bottled powder has been made in a 16th century cottage.

The strange find was made when owner Colin Graves began renovating his ancient home at Appledore but discovered there was more behind the wallpaper than he expected. Mr Graves noticed a chimney rising from his roof but only a gas fire some feet in front of a likely fireplace.

After gaining planning permission to knock down the 1960s wall, a trail of history was found including an old cooking range, a traditional cloam oven unique to North Devon, an older Norman bread oven and what is thought to be the original hearth and fireplace from centuries ago.

The step back into the past created a great deal of interest from local historians, especially when evidence of witchcraft was uncovered at Docton House, the oldest brick building in Appledore.

Sealed up in the bread oven was an old shoe dating back to around 1620, several pieces of elaborate glassware including a jar still holding a pink powder, pottery, threads and hairs.

Mr Graves said: "I had no idea what it was all about at first, but as more people came for a look, I was reliably informed it was once custom to seal up a fire or oven by witchcraft.

"I was also told I could expect to find a skeleton of a mummified cat under the hearth. And if I did find one. There is a procedure to balance things again, which would include making an apology and then burying the cat again."

But this was not any cackling, wart-covered type of evil witchery, but commonplace white witchcraft practised to counter the superstitions held by our ancestors of the 17th century and before.

Mr Graves explained: "There were lots of witches documented in Appledore, but it was not nastiness they practised, just tradition and custom."

The vault has not driven Mr Graves from his home in a fright, and nor does he fear any retribution from evil forces, but he does intend to honour the beliefs of the former dwellers in Docton House.

"I have a great respect for any kind of belief and ritual because that is what binds people together.

"Appledore was a relatively poor, hard working community. They had their superstitions and beliefs the same as we do and whatever worked for them is good for me.

"I am not the kind to go holding up a placard about living in a 16th century house, because I do not live in the 16th century, but it is not remotely difficult for me if I find a cat to put it back and let things go their natural course.

Above left: A bone that came from the old sealed fireplace and (above right) the jar that still held some of its original pink powder.

The finds have drawn historians from the Museum of North Devon in Barnstaple, Boscastle Museum of Witchcraft in Cornwall and Torrington 1646, all of whom have shed new light on the history of Docton House.

Aside from the white witchcraft, Mr Graves uncovered an elaborate fireback, possibly the finest example found in North Devon to date, and a cloam oven that unfortunately was in pieces, but which was an early example of a slow cooker and a unique form of cooking found in ancient North Devon homes.

Mr Graves now intends to continue renovating his home, and after looking for the cat under the hearth, he plans to use the fireplace as was once intended.

• Story originally published by:
North Devon Journal via This is North Devon / England | James Bulpett - Oct 19.01

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