Apotropaios
Researcher of strange things found in walls and under floors since 1999... FSA. Author of Magical House Protection & Bredon Hill. Guitar player!
www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Highlights from a visit to Upton Snodsbury Church today to see the carved face previously spotted by Catherine. Daisy-wheel panel in the nave, unusual carved figures & many circles at doorways. Thanks to Catherine & the Churchwarden for access. www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Discovered a new area of circles in the South transept stairs at Tewkesbury Abbey today. So this staircase has two daisy-wheels, several independent circles, and now this area which is opposite a medieval drawing of a face. www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Today's view from Tewkesbury Abbey tower...
- Today I paid another visit to Alderton Church in Gloucestershire. There are many marks in the north porch but today I spied these extra marks after gaining entry. www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Another talk delivered this evening for the lovely folk of Grafton Flyford. www.apotropaios.co.uk
- My next talk is relatively local, in Grafton Flyford, Worcs. Happening this Friday, starting at 7:30pm. Do come along :-) www.apotropaios.co.uk/lectures.html
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- Great audience at Lichfield tonight. I must come back :-) www.apotropaios.co.uk
- One of the benefits of spending 30 minutes in a medieval stair turret in Tewkesbury is finding another one these. Excellent :-) wwe.apotropaios.co.uk
- Where the green dot is can just be made out a pair of concentric circles. The second discovery like this in the south west corner of Tewkesbury Abbey. www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Tickets for my next talk in Lichfield are now available: History Night - Magical Protection in Buildings Date: 15 jan • 19:00 www.eventbrite.com/e/history-ni...
- Recently visited the remarkable Fotheringhay Church (former collegiate Church). It used to be twice this size... Worth a visit for sure. www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Second Peterborough post here. The 'clock without a face' (which chimed the time rather than displaying it) from the Cathedral has a collection of deliberate burn marks on it just visible in the pictures below... www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Paid a speedy visit to Peterborough Cathedral the other day and found the following marks after admiring the stunning Romanesque architecture. There will be another post about the old clock coming up... www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Season's Greetings :-)
- Throw back to a visit to Aston Hall, Birmingham in April 2025. Some nice features around the servants' quarters... www.apotropaios.co.uk
- After a talk I gave in Dunster the lovely folks from The Old Manor came to tell me about this old East European marriage chest they have in the chapel. Those in the know will see two columns of saltire crosses running down each side of the daisy-wheel. www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Just to let you all know the book about St Swithun's Church is now available at the Tourist Information office at the Guildhall in Worcester. Of course it's still available online too. www.apotropaios.co.uk/shop.html
- More protection marks... Concentric circles and a deliberate burn mark from the Lantern Chamber at Tewkesbury Abbey. www.apotropaios.co.uk
- The Tithe Barn at Dunster has many large daisy wheels like this one on it's walls. It was a fab venue for my talk yesterday www.apotropaios.co.uk
- A fun talk in Dunster today! Thanks to everyone who came along. www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Tomorrow I am speaking at Dunster Winter Festival, in the Tithe Barn at 4pm. Hopefully I'll see some of you there. www.dunsterwinterfestival.co.uk
- This grotesque is one of the homeless sculptures to be found in the main church at Cranborne, Dorset. The toothy stuff of nightmares! www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Sad to report that June Swann, who pioneered research into concealed shoes, passed away just over a week ago. One of her articles is on my website if you want to take a look. She was always really generous with her knowledge. www.apotropaios.co.uk/concealed-sh...
- For anyone interested in Worcester history there is a book launch tomorrow at St Swithun's Church, 12noon. It's a great book and even has a short section on protection marks in it. www.apotropaios.co.uk/store/p16/St...
- My next talk is in the wonderful village of Dunster, near Minehead. Details here: www.dunsterwinterfestival.co.uk/event-detail...
- Witch-bottles are one of my favourite topics - there's a large chapter on them in my book. This x-ray of the Greenwich bottle was organised by Dr Alan Massey, we've worked together on many bottles. www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Memento Mori (which means, 'remember, you must die') are a fascinating feature on many old monuments. Some look more startled than others though, like this one from Bosbury, Herefordshire. www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Very pleased to have received this volume in the post today which I contributed a chapter to. Hurrah! www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Today is the day when people felt that the veil between the living and the dead was somewhat thinner. Be sure that you have the proper protection in place, especially tonight... :-) www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Had good fun giving a lecture for Tewkesbury Museum this evening. A good turnout, some familiar faces and lots of great find reports. www.apotropaios.co.uk
- A gentle reminder that I'm giving a talk in Tewkesbury this coming Tuesday at 7pm. Would be great to see lots of you there :-) www.apotropaios.co.uk
- An interesting pattern here essentially following six points around a circle (like a daisy-wheel) but overlapping along an entire block. Discovered by the vergers over the weekend at about 7/8ft up the column, near the entrance at Tewkesbury. www.apotropaios.co.uk
- My next talk is happening in Tewkesbury. Please do come along... www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Had great fun speaking to an enthusiastic audience tonight. Do check out Script Haven if you're ever in Worcester. www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Popped into Bath Abbey the other day and spotted a collection of overlapping circles outside the vestry and a Marian mark in the South aisle. I'm sure there's much more there and other people have been there first but it was a fleeting visit... www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Found a couple more Marian marks on the high walkway above the High Altar at Tewkesbury Abbey today. This building just keeps on giving... www.apotropaios.co.uk
- If you're at all interested in why people used to conceal objects in their houses to ward off evil then there's a good chance you would find my book useful. www.apotropaios.co.uk
- My next public lecture is at Script Haven in Worcester on Wednesday 15th October. It will be all about Protection Marks, please do come along 🙂 wegottickets.com/event/674251
- Had a great day yesterday running tours of the marvellous apotropaic marks at Tewkesbury Abbey. Thanks to everyone who came along, you were all lovely. www.apotropaios.co.uk
- Horse skulls were often concealed within buildings to ward off evil. At a pub called The Portway in Herefordshire 24 were screwed beneath the floor. Find out more in my book, Magical House Protection: The Archaeology of Counter-Witchcraft (Berghahn 2019) www.apotropaios.co.uk
- For Heritage Open Days I am running a few free tours of apotropaic (protection) marks in Tewkesbury Abbey. They are happening at 9am, 2pm and 3pm. You need to book in advance as numbers are limited... www.tewkesburyabbey.org.uk/heritage-ope...
