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A mummified cat has been discovered hidden inside the walls of one of Britain’s most historic churches , smack bang next to the reputed grave of England’s last Anglo-Saxon king. The dried-out feline was found entombed within Waltham Abbey Church, Essex where King Harold Godwinso is believed to have been buried after being slain at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Experts say cats were often sealed into walls to ward off evil spirits, like like witches and ghosts . But that this usually happened in homes or barns, not in churches , and this new find has left historians completely baffled. Ian Channell, manager of Epping Forest District Museum, said he couldn’t believe what he was looking at when he first came across the eerie object. “We came to be aware of it through an audit of our collection, looking for undiscovered and underutilised objects,” he said. “I was not expecting to open a box and see a mummified cat inside of it – I was definitely quite shocked. It’s been part of the museum collection since its inception in the 1970s. It was originally part of the Waltham Abbey Historical Society collection, who gave it to them, unfortunately we don’t know. "Looking through the documentation that we had in the museum we were able to piece together the original place that it was found, within the walls of the church. It’s quite a frightening object to be honest.” The church itself dates back to the seventh century, with most of the current building built in the early 12th century. Once one of England’s grandest churches, Waltham Abbey was a hotspot for medieval pilgrims seeking the healing powers of its holy cross. One of those pilgrims was Harold Godwinson himself. He was reportedly healed there and later rebuilt the church “on a grander scale” before reconsecrating it in 1060. Six years later, he was famously killed at Hastings, losing the throne to William the Conqueror. But the mummified cat is believed to have been buried much later, between the 16th and 18th centuries. Mr Channell explained the long tradition of cat mummification:“Cat mummification has a long history – it was first really done by the ancient Egyptians, where they were offerings to the god Bastet. "In European history you do have it from the 16th to 18th centuries, with most cat mummification tending to be within barns or domestic settings. "It could have been put there to ward off evil spirits – that could be witches, warlocks, ghosts, evil spirits coming down the chimney, things like that. "It could also have been intended as a bit of good luck, or a way to ward off vermin.” Why the mysterious moggy ended up inside a Christian church, however, is anyone’s guess. Ian said: “The fact that this was found within the walls of Waltham Abbey Church is quite rare. “Why it was there is anyone’s guess. The town was Christian in the 16th to 18th centuries, so whether it was kind of a backup if Christianity didn’t work, I don’t know. Your guess is as good as mine, to be honest.” It seems the museum itself might have a few spooky secrets. According to staff, the building’s Tudor Gallery features strange burn marks shaped like tear drops around windows and doors - thought to be made to ward off evil. Other signs of superstition have also been found: a cross of nails above the fireplace and even a child’s shoe hidden under the floorboards. The mummified cat is now on public display, and to mark the occasion, archaeologist Wayne Perkins will give a talk on Mummified Cats tomorrow Wednesday, October 29. Tickets are £6.50 and can be booked on the museum’s website, if you dare. After Harold’s death, legend says his body was identified by his first wife, Edith Swanneck, and brought back to Waltham. The exact location of his tomb, however, remains a mystery, as it may have been moved when the church was extended. For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .
