Illustrated Talks on Zoom & ‘In Person’ 2023 – 2024 – Ritual Protection Marks & Ritual Practices

Main image: Curious shoe outlines cut into a lead plaque, St Mary’s church, Chalk, Kent

Tuesday 5th December 2023 @ 8pm

‘Soul To Sole: Intentionally Concealed Boots & Shoes’

A selection of shoes recovered from under the floorboards at the 14th century moated manor site at Ightham Mote, Kent. Photo: © W Perkins 2022.

The phenomenon of old, worn-out leather shoes being deliberately concealed within buildings is now an attested practice acknowledged by archaeologists. It is believed that the deposits were created to act as a prophylactic (a measure taken to fend off a disease or pest infestation); or to bring good luck, ward off the evil eye or indeed, the attentions of witches (Merrifield 1987: 133). Concealed shoes are found in building contexts all over the English-speaking world and are widespread across Europe (Cameron 1998:2, WDOAM 2007:33).

Shoe outlines, porch stone bench, St Giles’, Bredon, Worcestershire. Photo: © W Perkins 2022.

In medieval graffiti studies, shoe outlines are considered to be one of the universal motifs that occur all over England and throughout history (Champion 2017). Old worn out boots and shoes are by far the most commonest charm used to protect buildings in post-medieval times (Merrifield 1987: 131). Reports of concealments are logged onto the Northampton Concealed Shoe Index (set up by June Swann from Northampton Museum) which has now recorded over 2000 examples from the British Isles, Western Europe, Switzerland, Germany the Czech Republic, Italy and Turkey and now there are numerous examples from North America and Australia (Swann 1996:1).

An Illustrated ZOOM talk by Wayne Perkins

Zoom Lectures

info@thelasttuesdaysociety.org

Soul to Sole: Old Boots Concealed in Ancient Buildings – Wayne Perkins

2024

11th January 2024 @ 8pm

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

**Multiple marks & symbols on the same masonry block, south aisle, St Leonard’s, Hythe. Photo: (c) W Perkins 2019**

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.

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