Heritage Doncaster

This wildcat represents a popular piece of local folklore: the Legend of the Cat and the Man. According to the myth, during the 15th-century, a knight called Sir Percival Cresacre was travelling home from Doncaster to his home at Barnburgh Hall. As he trekked through Sprotbrough and High Melton, he was attacked by a wildcat. They fought, and Sir Cresacre ran back to Barnburgh with the cat chasing after him. The man and the cat continued their struggle, and Sir Creascre tried to shelter in St Peter’s Church. However, the fight was so fierce that he collapsed and died in the church’s porch, crushing the cat to death against the porch wall with his feet as his final act.

There is little evidence to suggest that this tale is anything more than a myth, especially as Sir Percival Cresacre wasn’t even alive at the time that this story is supposed to have taken place! However, the stone floor of the porch is still a faint red colour, and there is a statue of a cat in the church, so some people think that there may be some truth to it! What do you think?

A poppet is a doll that represents a person. They are used for emotional, spiritual and physical healing – it is believed by some that using a healing spell on the poppet will heal the person that the doll represents. Binding two poppets together is also supposed to make two people fall in love! On this poppet, the heart represents unity and connection, and the pink ribbon represents affection. It is wearing a white dress for healing. All of these things together suggest that this poppet has been created to heal relationships and bring love to the subject’s life.

Loaned by a member of the Doncaster Witchcraft community

Surma (also known as ‘kohl’ or ‘kajal’) is a traditional powder used primarily in South Asia, the Middle East and Africa for blackening the eyes. It is often used on babies, and is believed to keep eyes cool, improve vision, strengthen the eyes and treat conditions such as inflammation and watery eyes. It is also believed to ward off the ‘evil eye’ – a jealous gaze or stare superstitiously believed to cause bad luck, injury, illness or misfortune.

All across the world, people use pendants, charms and amulets to bring good luck or protection. These amulets are from South Africa, and are worn by Zulu men to protect them from harm. They are made from lion’s claws and glass beads, and are believed to bestow the wearer with the qualities of a lion, such as strength and power.

These cards are known as tarot or divination cards. Tarot cards are a medium that some people believe can be used to predict the future. The cards are laid out in particular formations, and the position of each card helps to predict specific future obstacles, events, or challenges. The different pictures represent a variety of possible outcomes. Tarot cards were first created in Europe in the 1400s, and were originally used to play card games, before being repurposed for divination.

Horseshoes are centuries-old symbols believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and protection from evil. Identified by its ‘U’ shape which closely resembles the crescent moon, it is associated with the mood goddess who is thought to bring good luck. Horseshoes are commonly made from iron, which is believed to ward off evil spirits, adding an extra layer of protection. Historically, many newly-wed brides received horseshoes as wedding gifts. The gesture was said to bestow love, luck and fertility upon the marriage.

“One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl and four for a boy,
 Five for silver, six for gold, seven for a secret never to be told”.

This poem likely stems from ornithomancy, the ancient practise of predicting the future based on the behaviour of birds.  In this case, the rhyme relates to magpies, and there have been several versions of it over time. Some believe that greeting a magpie with a salutation such as “good morning Mr Magpie!” can offset any bad luck they may bring.

‘Wassailing’ is a folk tradition, sometimes still practised in cider orchards in Southern England. It takes place in January, and involves singing and drinking in orchards in order to bless the trees in the hope of a successful harvest later in the year. The wassailers make as much noise as they can, singing, shouting, banging pans together and even firing guns in order to scare evil spirits away. These ceramic charms represent the slices of bread or toast, often soaked in cider, that are hung from the branches of trees or placed at their roots to please the tree spirits. The toast also attracts birds, which then help to keep the trees free from pests. 

Loaned by a member of the Doncaster Witchcraft community

In the Middle Ages, frogs were sometimes believed to be a witch’s familiar. Familiars are animals that were thought to act as witches’ servants or assistants, both in providing companionship and helping them to perform their magic – cats, frogs, mice, bats, dogs, and birds were all associated with witchcraft in this way. Some even believed that familiars were gifts from the devil.

‘Chakra’ is a type of spiritual energy, rooted in Buddhist and Hindu beliefs and practices, and many believe that chakra stones can help to energise, calm, or balance certain parts of the body. For example, the clear quartz on the left is associated with the crown chakra at the top of the head, and is supposed to promote understanding and spiritual connection. The rose quartz in the middle is for the heart chakra and it promotes love and emotional stability. The red jasper on the right is associated with the root chakra at the base of spine, and it is said to help people to feel grounded and secure.

Tea leaf reading (tasseography) is the practice of interpreting patterns formed by the loose-leaf tea in the teacup. Some people believe that this practice can tell the future of the tea drinker, providing spiritual guidance.

It is thought that the location of the symbol in the cup can indicate timing of an event, for example:

Symbols near the rim indicate the present or immediate future.

Symbols on the side of the cup indicate near future.

Symbol at the bottom of the cup indicate distant future.

Cup loaned by a member of the Doncaster Witchcraft community

Corn Dollies, also sometimes called Harvest Trophies or Corn Mothers, are a tradition dating back to the 16^th century. They were made from the last sheaves of corn (or other grain, such as barley or rye) from a harvest, steeped in warm water to make them more pliable and then shaped into figurines. People worries that the spirit of the corn, which lived in the crops, would be made homeless during the harvest. A corn dolly provided the spirit with somewhere to rest over winter, so that it could emerge again in spring and inhabit the newly-sown crops.

Many herbs, such as the chamomile and mint that we have here, are valued for their magical and medicinal properties, and were used in traditional medicines, healing remedies, and protective amulets. Many are still used today for a variety of purposes. For example, according to the NHS, peppermint oil can be an effective treatment for indigestion and IBS because it helps to relax the muscles in the bowel. Chamomile is often associated with supporting sleep, and lavender is used in aromatherapy due to its relaxing properties. Rosemary is used in incense, and is also sometimes used in amulets and charms as some believe it has protective properties. Some Indigenous American groups burn sage in order to purify a space and cleanse it of negative energy.

This pestle and mortar is from a Chemist’s shop, where it was used to grind medicinal substances into powder. These powders could then be mixed with other ingredients and formed into creams, tablets, ointments, tinctures, and other sorts of remedies. Herbs are often ground down in the same way to create herbal remedies.

This penny was found under the former Doncaster Girl’s Grammar School during the construction of Danum Gallery, Library and Museum. It had been placed in a bottle by students as part of a time capsule. It is from 1909, and features the profile of Edward VII, the king at the time.

There are many superstitions that associate pennies with good luck. Some believe that finding a penny with bring you good luck, particularly financial luck. Historically, brides would sometimes put a coin in one of their shoes on their wedding day to bring prosperity to the marriage. Other people would throw a penny overboard when travelling at sea as they believed it would increase the chances of a safe journey.

These talismans are both related to Venus. The leather talisman shows the seal of the planet Venus, and the copper talisman depicts the Roman Goddess Venus. Based on Roman mythology, Venus is associated with love and prosperity. These talismans are used to bring the power of Venus to love and relationships.

Loaned by a member of the Doncaster Witchcraft community