Some of the motifs collected in the corpora of Medieval graffiti are derived from ancient antecedents, which has led many…
Apotropaics Vs. Gunpowder?
One of the most unusual discoveries that I have made recently is a six-petal rosette (or daisy wheel) graffito that…
Ye Olde Six Bells, Horley, Surrey: When Sympathetic Magic Goes Bad
Legends, myths & ritual taper burn marks It is believed that the proximity of the Ye Older Six Bells public…
Fantastic Beasts & Where to find Them!
The Manticore The manticore was a legendary creature from ancient Persian mythology which featured strongly in medieval bestiaries and heraldry…
The Missing Shrine of Sir John Schorne, folk saint at Binham Priory, Fakenham, Norfolk
“I wish to be buried..before the Holy Image of Master John Schorne in the church at Binham” Richard Easingwold of…
In Memoriam: Memorial Graffiti, a Paupers’ Graveyard &…a Black Dog?
‘Rattle his bones over the stones, He’s only a pauper who nobody owns’ Well known ditty or saying (19th century?)…
Baddesley Clinton: New Evidence for the Deployment of Apotropaics at an Elite Residence
Gatehouse to Baddesley Clinton Hall, a number of apotropaic marks can be found on the walls of the entrance passage.…
Medieval Women: In Their Own Words Pt.1. Birthing Girdle (15th century).
‘Encounter the women of medieval Europe through their own words, visions and experiences, in an exhibition like no other. Discover…
Baddesley Clinton Hall: The Deployment of Apotropaics in an Elite Residence
South elevation, view to the north-east. Photo © Wayne Perkins 2024. Baddesley Clinton Hall is a medieval moated site (List…
Shoot That Poison Arrow: Apotropaics to Counter the Plague
Main image: Fresco in the former Abbey of Saint-André-de-Lavaudieu, France. Anon.Public domain Wikicommons What might have been a suitable apotropaic…
In the Shadow of the Gallows Pole
Main image: south window, Nave, St James’ church. A palimpsest of images with the gallows and several large pentangles being…
Illustrated Talks & Guided Tours 2025.
Main image: The six-petal rosette design deployed in a number of different ways and on a range of objects over…
‘The Historic Graffiti in the Medieval Buildings of the Charing Area’
An Illustrated talk by Wayne Perkins BA (Archaeology), A.C.I.f.A. (Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Archaeologists) 11th January 2024…
Up On the Roof: Shoe Outline Graffiti
Shoe Outline Graffiti Discovered at St Mary the Virgin Church, Chalk, Kent A recent survey recorded ‘shoe outline’ graffiti on…
The Legend of the ‘Little Blue Lady’ of Milstead Manor
During the 17th century a little girl aged about six years old lived at the Manor with her family along…
‘A Theory of Magic & Ritual: Malinowski’s Anthropological Study of the Trobriand Islanders’
Anthropological studies of magic in the early-to-mid 20th century primarily focused upon pre-industrial societies outside of Europe, the Classical World…
Saints & Mystics in Legend & Tradition
A Two-Day Conference Held by the Folklore Society Saints and Mystics in Legend and Tradition: The Seventeenth Legendary Weekend of…
Four ‘Modern’ Witch Bottles
Some of the ideas discussed here will be expanded upon in my next Zoom talk, ‘Witch Bottles: Spirit Traps or…
The Virgin Mary & the Ragged Staff : A Stick To Beat the Devil With!
When referring to the Virgin Mary, most of us are familiar with her title, the ‘Queen of Heaven’ but in…
Illustrated Talks on Zoom & ‘In Person’ 2023 – 2024
Main image: Curious shoe outlines cut into a lead plaque, St Mary’s church, Chalk, Kent Tuesday 5th December 2023 @…
‘Historic Graffiti & Ritual Protection Marks in the Worcestershire Churches’
Main image: You need hands! The stone bench inside the porch of St Peter in Little Comberton, Worcestershire is festooned…
Illustrated Talks 2023 – 2024
Main image: Bellarmine, Bartmaan or ‘Greybeard’ salt-glazed bottle. Tuesday 13th June 2023 @ 8pm. ‘Witch Bottles: Decoy, Spirit-trap or Counter-witchcraft…
Spiritual Middens: Decoys, Spirit Traps or Counter Witchcraft Measures?
Thu, 16 February 2023, 20:00 – 21:30 GMT Online talk via Zoom Archaeologists regularly discover large collections or ‘caches’ of…
History Society Finds: Concealed Shoes, two Witch Bottles & a ‘Witch’s Nail’ from Charing, Kent.
Pat Winzar (1920 – 2012) was an archaeologist and historian who worked on Eccles Roman Villa and became Council member…
If the walls could speak………..
Examples of figurative art among graffiti corpora are relatively common but no more straight forward to interpret than some of…
‘The Medieval & Historic Graffiti in the Borough of Swale’
Friday 3rd February 2023, @ 7.30pm £5 An Illustrated Talk by Wayne Perkins ‘In person‘ only Sheppey Little Theatre, Meyrick Road, Sheerness…
A Discovery of Angels: How an Anglo-Saxon Chapel Gave up Its Secrets
A fine example of how a multi-disciplinary approach to archaeology can unlock the secrets of ancient buildings. An Ancient Building…
John Schorn: the Rector Who Conjured the Devil Into A Boot
Hosted by the London Fortean Society Venue: The Bell, 50 Middlesex Street E1 7EX (Tubes: Liverpool Street, Aldgate, Aldgate East) Date: 28th…
Protecting Hearth & Home: Ox Row Inn, Salisbury
The Ox Row public house resides in a timber framed building built in 1594 on the Market Square, Salisbury. It…
17th Century, Momento Mori, ‘T.S.’
An example of ‘memorial’ graffiti cut into the chancel arch just above the north ‘squint,’ St Michael & All Saints,…
Return To The Source
St Swithins’ church, Lower Quinton, Warwickshire This article details the surprise discovery of a six-petalled rosette1 motif cut into the…
All Souls’ Day, 2nd November
Main image: Souls being harried by demons, Doom Painting, All Saints, Hastings. Photo: © W Perkins 2021. All Souls’ Day…
Happy Hallowe’en
A big thank you to our subscribers on All Hallows Eve!
Illustrated Talks 2023
Main image: A selection of old boots and shoes that had been deliberately concealed within the voids of Ightham Mote…
‘Sir John Schorn: The Rector Who Conjured the Devil into A Boot’
An Illustrated Talk for Olney Archaeology SocietyTuesday 1st November 2023 @ 10amZoom Presentation Main image: 14th century pilgrim badge probably…
In the palm of your hand….protection from the Virgin?
Left: Marian mark on the font at St George’s church, Crowhurst. Right: the ceases in some people’s hands bear a…
Ritual Protection Marks & Ritual Practices 