I just want to assure everyone that apotropaic marks are definitely a thing. The article in The Guardian highlights one line of thinking & completely ignores the context & social history which is at play in these spaces. Please continue to delight in the daisy-wheel. apotropaios.co.uk

My next talk in Alderton (Glos) is on Saturday 3rd October. As there was a waiting list from the last talk there really aren't that many tickets available so if you do want to come along to hear me speak then book now to avoid disappointment. ([email protected])

I was in Gloucester today and couldn't resist a quick visit (in the rain) to the little Chapel of St Mary Magdalene to look at some of it's very unusual flower graffiti. www.apotropaios.co.uk

Every two years I put together a conference all about historic practices which were designed to keep evil away. The next one, Hidden Charms 6, will take place in Edinburgh on Saturday 17th April 2027. All welcome. www.apotropaios.co.uk/2027-hidden-...

Paid a visit to Great Washbourne Church today, near Alderton where I was speaking last week. Some brilliant mass dials, a rather interesting tympanum with daisies, an attempted daisy in the chancel arch and some fragments of wall painting visible. www.apotropaios.co.uk

A fun talk and tour at Alderton Church tonight. What a lovely audience :-) www.apotropaios.co.uk

Marian marks can appear as M for Maria or upside down which possibly stands for Virgin of Virgins & they invoke her for protection. Here you can see it on my palm (in my book) along with a few other examples from Tewkesbury, Worcester and Long Compton. www.apotropaios.co.uk

My talk in Alderton on Saturday 13th June is now sold out, but the organiser can add you to a list for a subsequent one (date tbc) if you are still keen to come along a bit later. www.apotropaios.co.uk

Offchurch church near Leamington was today's visit. Found a consecration type mark and mass dial, and some 'arrow sharpening marks' in the main porch and door. Nice daisy integrated into the Romanesque decoration of north door. Must go back! www.apotropaios.co.uk

The study of apotropaic objects and marks is a fascinating and varied interdisciplinary area. Hidden Charms 6 (April 2027, Edinburgh) will embody this spirit - there is nowhere better to come along and meet similarly interested folks. All welcome. www.apotropaios.co.uk/2027-hidden-...

Recently visited a lovely medieval property near Dorstone in Herefordshire which has many deliberate burn marks and one very large daisy-wheel. Lovely stuff :-) www.apotropaios.co.uk

A lovely audience at tonight's talk for Worcester Industrial Archaeology and Local History Society. Nice to be speaking a few doors down from somewhere I used to live :-) www.apotropaios.co.uk

A poignant visit to St Swithun's in Worcester today as it was the final AGM of the Friends who've done so much to keep this building in good order over the years. Of course I had to pay a visit to some of the excellent apotropaic marks while I was there... www.apotropaios.co.uk/store/p16/St...

If any of you feel the need to have an alcoholic beverage while listening to ones of my talks then the one in Alderton in June may be the one for you! 🙂 www.apotropaios.co.uk/lectures.html

Visited Long Compton Church earlier on - the place made famous by the rhyme at the Rollright Stones. Lots of incredible Marian marks and some octograms on the back of the main door along with a shoe outline. Some very good concentric circles inside too. www.apotropaios.co.uk

A return visit to Chipping Camden today. The market hall has a collection of circles, a large Marian mark and some so-called 'arrow sharpening marks'. Across the road at Badgers Hall is a very complex set of concentric and overlapping circles. Good stuff! www.apotropaios.co.uk

My next talk is in Worcester on Friday 15th May for Worcestershire Industrial Archaeology and Local History Society (wialhs.org.uk), starting at 7:30pm. (pic from a recent talk at Grafton Flyford) www.apotropaios.co.uk/lectures.html

Lots of Marian marks and circles at Chipping Camden church. The Marian marks along the edge of the tomb are similar to the ones on the Wakeman tomb at Tewkesbury. www.apotropaios.co.uk

Had the opportunity to view this large daisy-wheel at Ditchford Farm, Moreton-in-Marsh earlier today. This farm appears to be 19th century. www.apotropaios.co.uk

I am pleased to announce today that tickets for Hidden Charms 6 are now live. This one day conference will explore apotropaic magic and will be happening at The Counting House, Edinburgh, EH8 9DD on 17th April 2027. For more info please follow the link 🙂 www.apotropaios.co.uk/2027-hidden-...

Paid a visit to Northleach Church today, not far from Cirencester, a fantastic light and airy wool church. Found some lovely marks including some circles, Marian marks and these amazing tessellated daisy-wheels within concentric circles. www.apotropaios.co.uk

Did some exploring at Boscobel House earlier today. Lots of deliberate burn marks and a couple of Marian marks were the key points of interest. www.apotropaios.co.uk

Back in February I visited a lovely Worcestershire farmhouse which had some great circles and daisy-wheels inside and a Marian mark. What I didn't say is that this amazing cruck framed building also has a remarkable King Post surviving inside it's current roof. www.apotropaios.co.uk

@folkmagicman.bsky.social just wanted you to know that on Saturday my coworkers and I stuck your book in the wall, along with a time capsule, in the 1902 building we’re renovating at work. Cheers! #driedcats

Some of the incredible circles and a daisy-wheel on the side of Overbury Church, Worcestershire. apotropaios.co.uk

For those who are new to this page, I have been researching apotropaic objects and marks since 1999 and in 2019 I had a book published all about it. I give lectures regularly. Book: www.apotropaios.co.uk/store/p1/mag... Lectures: www.apotropaios.co.uk/lectures.html

Made a return visit to Bordesley Abbey today to look at the shoe outlines on the site of St Stephen's Chapel (thanks Polly), also spotted a nice big deliberate burn mark in the reconstructed barn which houses the museum. www.apotropaios.co.uk

Rochester Cathedral has lots of scribed marks including many faces and a good deal of apotropaic marks too. Here's a small selection... www.apotropaios.co.uk

Spent some time at Battle Abbey today. Another daisy-wheel, some circles and one of several Marian marks all in the gatehouse. www.apotropaios.co.uk

Dover Castle is riddled with graffiti, mainly from French prisoners. However, two principal fireplaces in the Great Tower have lovely daisy-wheels in the centre of the main hearth lintel. Lovely to see. www.apotropaios.co.uk

A remarkable 17th century tomb from Canterbury Cathedral, covered in bones. Clearly a major memento mori. Also a possible Marian mark on one of the skulls. www.apotropaios.co.uk

Marian mark by the door, deliberate burn mark by an inner door, overlapping circles and daisy wheel on ceiling timber. All this in an incredible old cruck framed house complete with a crown post at Grafton Flyford. Thanks to Helen for showing us around. 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

A fantastic talk by Brian for our Lichfield Discovered history night!

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