NHER 30889 (Find Spot record) - Post-medieval Bellarmine witch bottles, Church Farm

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Summary

At some time prior to, or during 1950 two Bellarmine pots were found beneath a floor at Church Farm. One is reported to have contained a pin and both were probably witch bottles. In around 1994 a Bellarmine pot was also found in the loft of this property, although it is unclear from the available information if this was a third vessel or one of those that had been found during the 1950s.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TF81SE
Civil Parish GREAT DUNHAM, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK

Map

Around 1950. Stray Find.
An article on witch bottles published in 1955 (S1) notes that two Bellarmine pots had been found "…together beneath a floor in Church Farm, Great Dunham…". These are presumably the "...Bellarmine pots found recently at Great Dunham..." noted in (S2), one of which apparently contained a pin.
P. Watkins (HES), 15 August 2017.

1994. Stray Find.
Found in loft at Church Farm House (house said to be around 400 years old but not listed):
Bellarmine (once part broken ?from any contents).
See rubbings (S3) and (S4).
It is unclear if this was a new discovery or one of the vessels found during the 1950s (which were not recorded on the NHER at the time this entry was first made).
W. Milligan (NCM), 20 July 1994. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 15 August 2017.

  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • <S1> Article in Serial: Merrifield, R. 1955. Witch Bottles and Magical Jugs. Folklore. Vol 66 No 1 pp 195-207.
  • <S2> Newspaper Article: 1950. "Walking Toad" Charm - Talk on Dereham as Witches' Centre. 8 June.
  • <S3> Illustration: Milligan, W. 1994. Rubbing of a post-medieval Bellarmine pottery vessel. Paper. 1:1.
  • <S4> Illustration: Milligan, W. 1994. Rubbing of a post-medieval Bellarmine pottery vessel. Paper. 1:1.
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Aug 15 2017 11:39AM

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