Be seeing you….prisoner graffiti at Le Donjon, Niort, Deux Sèvres, France

Wayne Perkins

View towards the north-west, the north tower currently under repair. Photo: © W Perkins 2026.

Le Donjon in Niort is composed of two medieval square towers linked by a curtain wall, which was roofed to form a residence in the 13th century. During the 18th and 19th centuries it was used to imprison captured English, Dutch and Spanish seafarers. Some of the rooms posses graffiti which attests to their stay…

View towards the south-west, the north tower currently under repair. Photo: © W Perkins 2026.

The castle was begun c.1180 by Henry Plantagenet II who extended his kingdom over all western France following his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine (NMP 2026). The castle was completed under Richard the Lionheart c.1189-99. It is believed to have been built upon an earlier Merovingian castle (GSI 2026).

It was damaged during the Wars of Religion (1562-1598) and during the 18th century became a prison for captured seafarers (Baudry 2011). In 1749 the north tower collapsed; the stability of which remains an issue up until today.

Mason’s Marks

A range of mason’s marks are present on some (but not all) of the stonework both inside and outside the building. In France, as from elsewhere in Europe, medieval buildings often display a much more’ complete’ set of mason’s marks than in England.

A mason’s mark taking the form of a ‘dagaz’ motif. The cross pommèe above may also be one although could be interpreted as a ‘protective’ devicePhoto: © W Perkins 2026.
The Marian mark, common in English contexts is rare or absent in most French graffiti corpora. The style an execution of this ‘W’ (double-V) is more likely to be a mason’s mark. Photo: © W Perkins 2026.
Interior: a mason’s mark has been damaged by a ‘peck’ mark added to allow a layer of plaster to key to the masonry. Photo: © W Perkins 2026.

Further reading:

Baudry, M P (2011) Le Donjon.

https://www.patrimoinenouvelleaquitaine.fr/default/doc/Dossier/fad8f60e-eb09-460f-ac4a-bceafa6220c8/donjon-chateau?_lg=fr-FR

Grand-Sud Insolité (2026) Le Donjon de Niort, the work of the Plantagenets, and its museum

https://www.grandsudinsolite.fr/1712–.html

Niort Marais Poitevin (2026) Le Donjon

Le Donjon de Niort
https://spirit.aeonbooks.co.uk/product/consensus-of-symbols/95394
Illustrated Talks & Guided Tours 2026
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Published by Wayne Perkins

I am an archaeologist with over twenty years of experience. After a decade or so working as a volunteer on excavations in the 1990’s, I undertook my degree in Archaeology at the University of Birmingham. In the last year of my degree I helped to supervise the university’s annual excavations. Directly after my exams I began my career in Commercial Archaeology as a Field Archaeologist with Oxford Archaeology and remained there for four years. Anticipating a career in archaeology in France I volunteered on excavations at Rom and at Prisse-la-Charriere, Niort (for Poitiers & Rennes University respectively). In due course I worked for the States’ premier scientific organization, I.N.R.A.P. (Institut Nationale des Récherches Archéologiques Préventives) as well as for a number of private companies. I returned to the UK in 2013 and resumed my role as a Supervisor, undertaking projects around Oxfordshire with John Moore Heritage Services before moving to London in 2014. I now undertake Historic Building Surveys and supervise urban excavations in the City of London as well as overseeing rural excavations in surrounding Sussex, Surrey & Kent. Wayne Perkins BA Hons (Archaeology) ACIfA (Associate Member, Chartered Institute for Archaeologists)

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