Historic Graffiti in Lincolnshire by Brian Porter
- Sue Hayden
- Nov 5
- 4 min read
Every graffito has a story to tell. Who carved them, when, how and why in the place chosen? This blog is an introduction to historic graffiti, and it is hoped to add more information in a future blog.
People have always felt the need to leave a physical mark and in a wide variety of places. These include churches, houses, castles, rocks in the landscape, pottery, roof tiles, trees and elsewhere. Some regard them as vandalism while others see them as art or messages from the past.
Let’s start by considering a definition of graffiti as “marks that have been scratched, painted, drawn or written in a publicly accessible place without permission”. Historic graffiti is now regarded as a subject of increasing attention and study as it frequently informs us about how ordinary people in the past interacted with places around them.
Graffiti has been found as early as prehistory by the rock art carvings and cave paintings, in ancient Egypt and Roman times and right up to current times exemplified by Banksy.
In archaeology we don’t need to excavate when recording graffiti; instead, we record them in plain sight as almost all are found above ground. They are usually within standing reach of the nearest floor. Many are very faintly carved and are difficult to see. Enhancing them is done by using LED raking(instead of direct light) to increase the shadows in the grooves and therefore improve their visibility. A written detailed list is completed alongside digital images taken of each graffito.
This is a simple technique that you can practice, and you will soon see how the graffiti changes from easily visible to faint as you turn the torch from different angles.
Combining raking light with digital photography is also non-invasive, and an excellent way to avoid the destructive old-fashioned methods of recording carvings by pencil rubbings or chalking-in the lines.NB - Please respect the fabric of these old buildings.
In Lincolnshire the survey began in 2013 by establishing the ‘Lincolnshire Historic Graffiti Survey’. The survey is led and recorded entirely by trained volunteers. We began by investigating graffiti found in Lincolnshire churches, but now we have started collecting information on graffiti found in any type of secular structure. The first survey took place at St Peter’s Church, Doddington. Since that momentous start, the volunteers have so far recorded at over 130 churches and has found many more buildings with graffiti that are waiting to be recorded.
Many examples of graffiti have clear religious link such as the crude cross at Glentworth St Michael. Some graffiti are thought to be offering protection either to the building or to the carver. (See next blog!)
Others are memorial or commemorative, or simply a visitor creating some connection to the building. Symbols, pictures, initials names dates, tools, music and many more can be found. When searching for graffiti it has been impossible to predict what will be found, or even if anything will be spotted. This adds to the fun and mystery of ‘graffiti hunting’. More detail on the interpretation of symbols will be discussed in a future blog.
Interpretation of symbols and pictorial graffiti is complex. However, meanings are being teased out gradually. Names dates and initials are the commonest type found, and occasionally a specific person can be traced and aspects of their lives revealed. This is the case for the carving of William Hilton 1739 at Coleby All Saints church. The local parish registers list just one William Hilton that fits this period. He was baptised in 1723, thus making him 16 when the carving was undertaken. Sadly, we also know that he died on the 8th of April 1755 at the young age of 32.
Dating without a number is trickier, but sometimes the style of the lettering in a sentence, or clothing on a human figure can point to a defined era.
Such is the case with several graffiti at the kneeling Lady at Goxhill All Saints, including the rare example of a female graffiti figure. Her clothing, especially the headgear is typical of the 15th century. This tallies with the date of construction of the South arcade where she is located.
In summary, graffiti is widespread in ancient buildings, is varied and informative of how ordinary people interacted with churches and other buildings. Perhaps they also tell us something about how we view the past, view historic graffiti as being heritage more than vandalism, and how they can form a connection of past people thoughts and actions with our own lives today.
Now feel free to pop-in to your local church and see if you can find any graffiti. A useful quick guide to places where it is known to exist is on the MAP of the Lincolnshire Historic Graffiti Survey website. Anything not on the map has not been visited and their graffiti status unknown. Find the map at the following link:
All buildings not on the list are yet to be investigated, so if you find any graffiti in one of these unknown buildings, please let the coordinator, Brian Porter, know at:
IN THE MEANTIME, here are several images to whet your appetite … HAPPY HUNTING!
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