Berry explained, 'When you get something like that, that is very much a curse,' highlighting how the upside-down etching reflects historical superstitions regarding curses and defacement.
According to English Heritage, 'the etchings make the property a clear contender for the spookiest site of them all,' emphasizing the eerie historical context surrounding the carvings.
The curse inscription appeared to target William Hickman, a merchant who took ownership of the manor from the Burgh family in 1596, and he was 'notoriously unpopular, despised by locals.'
Berry noted that the coloring of the plaster indicated it was hidden from sight, stating, 'exactly as a curse of the time should be to be successful.'
The discovery of the upside-down name and the subsequent interpretations highlight how historical graffiti serves as a window into the superstitions and tensions of the past.
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