Tudor House Museum cafe draws visitors with mysterious carved marks

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 11 Oct, 11:19 · Archive

A cafe in Worcester's Tudor House Museum contains what are believed to be witch marks carved into stone.

A cafe in Worcester's Tudor House Museum on Friar Street is drawing increasing visitor numbers, attracted by the building's mysteries and historical features. The museum, which is free to enter, receives over 20,000 visitors annually, with attendance rising every year since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The cafe, open Wednesday to Saturday between 10am and 4pm, serves tea and coffee. Visitors who look closely may notice what are believed to be witch marks carved faintly into the stone. These marks, also known as Apotropaic marks, are thought to have originated from the religious and later secular superstitions of people in the past.

The building itself comprises three dwellings built in the first half of the 16th century, and contains vestiges of even older structures within. The site is described as one of Worcester's finest timber-framed buildings from the medieval and Tudor era. Growing visitor numbers to both the museum and cafe have helped bring these historical mysteries to wider attention.

How it is being reported

• Rare mysteries of hidden gem Tudor cafe in 'Worcester's prettiest street'The Tudor House Museum cafe in Friar Street, Worcester has a number of unusual features including possible 'witch marks' which have attracted the interest of visitorsMalvern Gazette · 11 Oct, 05:00
• Rare mysteries of hidden gem Tudor cafe in 'Worcester's prettiest street'The Tudor House Museum cafe in Friar Street, Worcester has a number of unusual features including possible 'witch marks' which have attracted the interest of visitorsWorcester News · 11 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Tudor House Museum · Worcester · Friar Street

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