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 Measures?’

One of the most immediately recognisable forms among the repertoire of concealed objects is the ‘witch bottle’ – notable for its anthropological form with its bearded face (or mask) decoration on the neck above its bulbous ‘body. Their contents are equally startling, often comprised human urine and nail clippings along with bent nails and pins suggesting a malefic act.

However, more recent close examination of the contents has shown that there is a far greater variety of contents than hitherto recorded. The contents provide a clue as to the intention behind their creation.

Archaeologists are now systematically recording stoneware bellarmine (or Bartmann) jugs found buried under thresholds or hearthstones from 16^th and 17^th century houses as well as from a variety of other contexts.

The insertion of human organic matter and the selection of ‘prepared’ items included within its their contents have all the hallmarks of a non-Christian, even heretical ‘ritual act.’ One suspects, therefore, that it would not have been undertaken lightly, and it is more likely that they were created for a client by a cunning man or wise woman.  

The careful examination of both the archaeological provenance of the witch bottle and an analysis of its contents reveals the variety of practice within the long tradition of folk magic in the Early Modern Period.

Although the composition of their contents is now better understood, questions remain as to whether they were intended to act as a decoy, spirit trap or as a counter-measure against bewitchment and witchcraft…..

An Illustrated Talk by Wayne Perkins

A Zoom Presentation

Hosted by: Viktor Wynd & The Last Tuesday Society.

Details/Registration:

info@thelasttuesdaysociety.org

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Tuesday 15th August 2023

‘Ritual Protection Marks & Apotropaic Graffiti in the London Churches’

An ongoing survey of the London churches has recorded a surprisingly varied corpus of medieval and historic graffiti of which ritual protective marks (or apotropaics) make up a substantial part. Protective compass-drawn circles, Marian Marks and saltires are among just a few of the varied symbols and motifs so far recorded.

This illustrated talk takes you on a virtual tour of the capitals major religious monuments and their attendant graffiti and inscriptions and explains how they are now being understood in light of new interpretative frameworks.

An Illustrated Talk by Wayne Perkins

A Zoom Presentation

Hosted by: Viktor Wynd & The Last Tuesday Society.

Details/Registration:

info@thelasttuesdaysociety.org

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Friday, 8th September 2023 @ 7.30pm

‘The Historic Graffiti in the Medieval Buildings of the Maidstone Area 2: New Discoveries, New Perspectives’

An illustrated talk by Wayne Perkins

BA Archaeology, Associate, Chartered institute for Archaeologists

A preliminary survey of a random sample of medieval buildings in the Maidstone Area was undertaken by the author which has revealed a number marks and symbols carved into their masonry and woodwork.

The survey took the form of a preliminary, non-invasive survey (following Historic England Grade 2 Survey protocols). The graffiti was recorded on pro forma sheets

Notably, Marian marks, dagaz runes and compass drawn circles were recorded.

In recent years, the re-evaluation of medieval graffiti has revealed many more subtleties and diverse meanings than hitherto imagined.

The study of medieval graffiti has been in the ascendant, with popular books published on the subject. These mainstream publications have helped to disseminate the new interpretative frameworks and ideas which are the culmination of the last thirty years of academic research into medieval inscriptions.

There are many categories now recognised, including masons’ marks, devotional and memorial inscriptions and a whole range of apotropaic symbols now believed to represent elements of ritual building protection.

Many of these marks have been interpreted as apotropaics; ritual protection marks intended to avert the evil-eye, bring good luck, to trap evil spirits and to act, in some cases, as counter-Witchcraft measures.

Graffiti can span the entire medieval period but appears to peak during the Early Modern Period (c. AD 1550 –1800) at the time of the so-called ‘witch craze’ in Europe.

It is now generally agreed that many medieval buildings which contain examples of apotropaic graffiti are also likely to exhibit evidence for other ritual practices, such as the concealing of objects within the buildings’ fabric. There is now a growing database that records the discovery of concealed shoes (and clothing), witch bottles, written charms and mummified cats and the application of intentional taper burns that have been found in building contexts and which have been recorded archaeologically.

Hosted by:

Maidstone Area Archaeological Group

Friday, 8th September 2023 @ 7.30pm

Venue:
Maidstone Community Support Centre
Marsham Street, Maidstone ME14 1hh

Details/registration:

https://maag.chessck.co.uk/MEETINGSfor2023

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Tuesday 10th October 2023

‘The Devils: A Case of Demonic Possession & Witchcraft in Loudun, France’

In 1617 the priest Urbain Grandier rode into the town of Loudun in France to assume his role as both the priest of l’ Eglise St Pierre du Marche and as the Canon of the collegiale church of Sainte Croixe. Ordained into the Jesuit priesthood only two years before, he was a relatively young man to be taking such a prominent role, but his time spent with the Jesuits had been exemplary and he had exceeded their expectations with his hard work. Tall, handsome, he was considered to be both an attractive and imposing man. On arrival he was much feted and welcomed into the upper class households of the prominent families in the town. Once ensconced amongst the higher echelons of society his intelligence and wit were much in demand.

 Yet, seventeen years later he was found guilty of sorcery, of having made a pact with the devil and responsible for the demonic possession of the Ursuline nuns residing in the town’s convent. His trial and sentence culminated in his torture and being burnt alive at the stake. How could such a turn of fortunes have occurred in such a short space of time? And how could a man of God come to be accused of maleficium? It is one of the most famous and strangest cases of witchcraft and demonic possession in France and probably all of Europe.

An Illustrated Talk by Wayne Perkins

BA (Archaeology)

A.C.I.F.A.(Associate, Chartered institute for Archaeologists)

A Zoom Presentation

Hosted by: Viktor Wynd & The Last Tuesday Society.

Details/Registration:

info@thelasttuesdaysociety.org

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

2024

‘Historic Graffiti in the Medieval Buildings of the Charing Area’

11th January 2024 @ 8pm

An Illustrated talk by Wayne Perkins

In person

The villages and towns around Charing possess a wide array of unique churches and surviving medieval buildings. Surveys undertaken by the author have recorded a fascinating corpus of medieval and historic graffiti (including inscriptions, figurative art, memorials and devotional graffiti) which will be discussed in this illustrated talk.

Many of the marks are so-called ‘ritual protection marks’ – also known as ‘apotropaics’ (from the Greek, ‘to turn away evil’) whose purpose appears to have been was to defend the buildings against evil spirits; to protect them from the evil eye and, in some cases, to act as counter-witchcraft measures.

The talk will begin with a study of the medieval buildings within the area, then expand the discussion to compare the corpus of graffiti and inscriptions with regional, national and international examples.

Venue:

Charing Village Hall

Station Road

Charing, Kent TN27 0JA

Members free, visitors £3

Details/contact:

Celia Jennings cj3397@gmail.com

Website:

https://www.charinghistory.co.uk/

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

‘The Historic Graffiti in the Medieval Buildings of the Barming Area’

22nd January 2024 @ 7.30pm.

A palimpsest of graffiti found in the porch of St Martin’s church, Ryarsh including initials and an ichthys. Photo: © W Perkins 2020

An Illustrated talk by Wayne Perkins

In person

The villages and towns around Barming possess a wide array of unique churches and surviving medieval buildings. Surveys undertaken by the author have recorded a fascinating corpus of medieval and historic graffiti (including inscriptions, figurative art, memorials and devotional graffiti) which will be discussed in this illustrated talk.

Many of the marks are so-called ‘ritual protection marks’ – also known as ‘apotropaics’ (from the Greek, ‘to turn away evil’) whose purpose appears to have been was to defend the buildings against evil spirits, to protect them from the evil eye and, in some cases, to act as counter-witchcraft measures.

The talk will begin with a study of the medieval buildings within the area, then expand the discussion to compare the corpus of graffiti and inscriptions with regional, national and international examples.

22nd January 2024 @ 7.30pm.

Barming Village Hall
Heath Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9JU

Hosted by: Barming History Society.

Details/registration:

annebarminghistory@gmail.com

https://sites.google.com/site/barminghistorysociety/home

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Further information regarding each of the above events will follow shortly or please contact wmp1@yahoo.com