Medieval Graffiti - Useful Links

An example of initials from the 17th century, within the tower of St John the Baptist, Winchester

• As mentioned on the introductory webpage, Matt Champion has been at the forefront of 21st C. research producing a variety of work related to graffiti:
  • YouTube videos
  • A regular blog
    


• Another website "Raking Light has been set up to provide a searchable resource for enthusiasts and researchers of historic graffiti, masons’ marks, carpenters’ marks, merchants’ marks and protection marks."


• The British Association for Local History have a recent 'News' post on Medieval Graffiti in Canterbury Cathedral.

References from Proceedings & HFC Members

Dr Arthur Robert Green, MRCS & LRCP, is amongst the members listed in Vol 9, Part 2 for 1922. He was living in Romsey at Croylands while making a living as a doctor. He, as shown by the illustration to the left, and the titles of the articles listed from Proceedings (below) had a great interest in churches and church architecture. His volume on Sundials Incised Dials and Mass-Clocks was published in 1926; the SPCK republished the paperback edition, shown here, in 1978.

There are examples of research on graffiti by authors of articles or notes in the Proceedings of the HFC:

• A R Green, FSA: Graffiti in King's Somborne Church (Vol 13, Part 1)
• A R Green: Incised Dials, Scratch Dials or Mass Clocks on the Walls of Hampshire Churches (Vol 15, Part 3)
• E H L Poole: Scratch Dials at All Saints' Church, Martin (Vol 16, Part 3); this was a comment on A R Green's article in Vol 15.

Mr C J P Cave, President 1940-43, was a leading light in the Photographic Section of the HFC. In his Presidential Address, on the topic of 'Telephotography and Spotlight as Aids to the Study of Antiquities', he notes at the final paragraph that:

The archaeologist will doubtless think of many things whose photography would be helped by a spotlight. I have photographed graffiti, scratched on the wall of a church, by placing my spot-light so that the beam glances along the surface of the wall. This brings out every slight scratch on the wall.

This advice is still followed today when churches are being surveyed for graffiti.