A spooky iron cauldron has been revealed in Leeds after it was sealed in the walls of a Victorian House more than a century ago.

The historic find was made following reports of spiritual occurrences at the house, and is has now been made apart of the Leeds Museums and Galleries collection.

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “It’s always fascinating to learn more about the customs, heritage and traditions of the different people who made the city their home and who laid the foundations of modern-day Leeds.

“Discoveries like these teach us so much about Leeds’s history and help us to understand how it shapes the city we know today.”

The cauldron was discovered in a cellar in Chapeltown after workers came to investigate a dripping sound which the resident couldn’t locate.

Workers removed a wall and discovered the metal object, it is believed to have been part of an ancient practice designed to protect the house from ‘supernatural forces’.

At the time of discovery back in 2012, the resident had also reported hearing strange noises at the house, with doors being said to fly open and shut on their own.

Kitty Ross, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ curator of social history, said: “The practice of concealing objects within the fabric of buildings goes back thousands of years, to well before medieval times, and was believed to protect the house and its inhabitants from ‘evil forces’, curses and disease.

“Rituals to ward off negative influences are among the oldest in human history, and even the tradition of carving scary faces into pumpkins or turnips at Halloween was originally carried out in a bid to keep supernatural forces at bay.

“It’s fascinating to see how these traditions have been built into the fabric of our city and the different ways they have evolved over the centuries to become part of modern culture.”

The cauldron is part of the Leeds Discovery Centre, home to more than a million objects.

Leeds Museums and Galleries is also hosting a programme of spooky Halloween events, including a scarecrow trail at Leeds Industrial Museum, a look at the ghost stories of Temple Newsam House and pumpkin patch trailer tours at Lotherton.