Bottle of “Anti-Witchcraft Potion” Found At The Former Home Of Alleged Witch
BBCProduction of this type of torpedo-shaped bottle began in the 1830s, long after alleged witch Angeline Tubbs left England.
Sometimes the strangest chapters of history come back into the news. Earlier this year, a renovation on a centuries-old building in England revealed a strange find: a bottle of “anti-witchcraft” potion. Even more interesting? The building was the birthplace of a woman named Angeline Tubbs, known locally as the Witch of Saratoga.
While renovating the roof of the Star and Garter Inn in Northamptonshire, the local pub owner discovered a torpedo-shapes bottle filled with fishhooks, human teeth, and a mysterious liquid.
According to researchers at the Museum of London Archaeology, this type of bottle was produced in the 18th century as a tool to ward off witchcraft. Many types of these “anti-witchcraft” bottles have been found across England, beneath the floors of historic buildings, churchyards, riverbanks, and on archaeological sites. While they typically contain nails or pins, some have been found filled with urine.
What brings the story full circle is that the Star and Garter Inn was once the home (and birthplace) of a woman named Angeline Tubbs, who moved to New York in the late 1700s, after the Revolutionary War. Saratoga Springs legend has it that Tubbs was a witch, a legend fleshed out by the true facts about her – for example, that she was a fortune teller, and that her only companions were a pack of feral cats.
Enjoyed this strange news roundup? Check out the weirdest ways people have died throughout history. Then, see how this year’s news compares to the strangest stories of 2018.
