300-year-old 'magic shoe' discovered inside wall of English college

A 300-year-old "magic" shoe found in the wall of England's University of Cambridge might have been used to protect the master of the college from evil spirits, Cambridge News reports. The single shoe, belonging to the left foot, was found in the wall of what is now the Senior Common Room at St. John's College while crews were installing cables.

"Given its location, it is very likely that it was there to play a protective role for the master of the College. It may even have been one of his old shoes," said Richard Newman of the Cambridge Archaeological Unit. The researchers believe the shoe had been placed in the wall sometime in the late 17th century or midway through the 18th.

Magical items such as shoes, dead cats, and horse's skulls used to be put in walls so evil spirits couldn't enter a room and harass the living. Eerily, Cambridge News reports the shoe was found on Aug. 1, "which is also the birthday of the Cambridge academic and ghost story writer, M. R. James. His tales often begin with the discovery of an antique object, which then unleashes supernatural peril from beyond the grave."

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No supernatural peril has befallen St. John's since the shoe was uncovered, and it will eventually be returned to the wall, along with a 21st century time capsule, when the work in the room has been completed.