300-year-old ‘lucky shoe’ found in Cambridge

A 300-year-old remarkably well-preserved shoe is found in the wall of a University of Cambridge building in the UK that was likely put there to bring luck and ward off evil spirits.

The footwear was uncovered by maintenance staff of the St. John’s College while they were removing panels to install electrical cables a common room for senior academics.

The building was originally the residence of the Master of the College. It was built between 1598 and 1602, but it is thought that the shoe was put behind the panels during changes to its interior, between the end of the 17th century, and mid-way through the 18th, the university said in a statement.

Shoes are sometimes found within the walls of old buildings because, in more superstitious times, they were thought to protect the inhabitant and prevent malicious forces from entering.

The discovery of the left shoe of a man, measuring over nine-and-a-half inches (about a size 6 by modern standards) has been referred to the Cambridge Archaeological Unit, who have taken photographs and are consulting a specialist in the hope of establishing a precise date.

Richard Newman, from the Archaeological Unit, described it as a “classic example” of what researchers call “apotropaic” magic, popular magic designed to bring luck and turn away evil influences.

Magic of this type was widespread in England till the 19th century.