An Illustrated talk by Wayne Perkins
BA (Archaeology), A.C.I.f.A. (Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Archaeologists)
11th January 2024 @ 7.30pm
Parish Hall, Station Road, Charing TN27 0JA
Hosted by:
Charing & District Historical Society
Non-members £3
Details/registration:
Celia Jennings cj3397@gmail.com
https://www.charinghistory.co.uk/
The past thirty years of academic research has brought about a re-evaluation of medieval and historic graffiti, revealing many more subtleties and diverse meanings than hitherto imagined.
It will include graffiti recorded in St Peter & St Paul’s, Charing, St Margaret’s, Hothwell, St Mary’s, Lenham, St Mary, Little Chart, St Nicholas, Pluckley & St Mary, Westwell among others……
A survey of medieval buildings in Charing and the surrounding district has revealed a number of ‘protective’ compass-drawn circles, ‘Marian marks,’ mason’s marks and a number of diverse symbols carved into the masonry and burnt/scribed into the woodwork.
Of note is this beautifully inscribed knotwork within a concentric circle.
The author will talk about the current interpretational frameworks that have been devised for the different types of medieval graffiti . The findings of the preliminary survey will be compared to regional, national and international corpora.
There will also be a discussion of so-called ‘apotropaic’ graffiti (also known as ‘ritual protection marks’) found in medieval buildings, whose purpose was to protect the buildings and the inhabitants from harm.
2024
11th January 2024 @ 8pm
‘The Historic Graffiti in the Medieval Buildings of the Charing Area’
Hosted by: Charing & District History Society
Charing Parish Hall, Station Road, Charing, Kent TN27 0JA
Members free, visitors £3.
Details/contact: Celia Jennings cj3397@gmail.com
Website: https://www.charinghistory.co.uk/
22nd January 2024 @ 7.30pm.
‘The Historic Graffiti in the Medieval Buildings of the Barming Area’
Hosted by: Barming History Society.
Barming Village Hall, Heath Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9JU
Details/registration:annebarminghistory@gmail.com
https://sites.google.com/site/barminghistorysociety/home/events
February 22nd 2024
‘John Schorn: The Rector Who Conjured the Devil Into A Boot’
Zoom talk in association with the Folklore Society
Details/registration: https://folklore-society.com/
March 21st 2024 @ 7.30pm
‘The Historic Graffiti in the Medieval Buildings of the Chipping Camden Area’
Hosted by: Chipping Camden History Society
Campden Town hall
Details/registration: https://www.chippingcampdenhistory.org.uk/content/category/get-in-touch
Website: https://www.chippingcampdenhistory.org.uk/
April 20th 2024
‘Ritual Protection Marks found in Littlebourne’s 14th Century Tithe Barn’
(includes a guided tour of the historic graffiti in the adjoining church of St Vincent’s)
Hosted by: Littlebourne Barn Society.
May 11th 2024
‘The Historic Graffiti in the church of St Mary the Virgin, Letchworth’
Hosted by: St Mary’s Church Fund.
May 16th 2024
‘Witchcraft in Kent: The Archaeological Evidence’
Hosted by: Bexley Archaeology Group (BAG)
June 21st 2024
‘The Historic Graffiti Discovered in Lord Leycester’s Hospital, Warwick’
Hosted by: The Lord Leycester (Smart talk)
September 6th 2024
‘Witchcraft in Kent: The Archaeological Evidence’
Hosted by: The Sheppey Little Theatre.
September 10th 2024
‘The Medieval & Historic Graffiti in All Saints Church, Maidstone’
(Includes a tour of the graffiti in All Saints church)
Hosted by: Maidstone Area Archaeological Group.
October 12th 2024
‘Witchcraft in Worcestershire: The Archaeological Evidence’
Hosted by: South Worcestershire Archaeology Group (SWAG)
Ritual Protection Marks & Ritual Practices 
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