Protection Marks
Before describing marks for protection it is important to be aware that carpenter's marks can also usually be found in a timber building. These were used extensively as part of the assembly process for erecting timber framed buildings. The marks usually form a numerical sequence which helped the builder to know which timbers to join together and in what order when they were laying out the frames which would then be erected. There are many varieties of carpenter's marks and it is important not to confuse them with ritual marks.
This example of a overlapping daisy-wheels was found within the porch of All Saints Church, Evesham, Worcestershire.
Daisy wheels are one of the most commonly found marks in old buildings. They seem to have originated as a solar symbol which could dispel darkness and later being regarded as decoys or traps for harmful energies.
Daisy wheels are one of the most commonly found marks in old buildings. They seem to have originated as a solar symbol which could dispel darkness and later being regarded as decoys or traps for harmful energies.
Several symbols have been engraved onto wood, stone or plaster for protection purposes. The most common of these is the ‘daisywheel’. It is a compass-drawn circle with six petals within it and it appears on buildings and on furniture within buildings throughout Britain. It appears to have been a general protection against ill-fortune or was deemed a good luck symbol. These 'daisy wheels' are common throughout England and Wales with many examples from Kent, Devon, Shropshire, Powys and Yorkshire. It is likely, however, that they are far more widespread than this.
These overlapping circles are just a few of those which appear on a sealed door in Harvington Hall, Worcestershire. The door formerly gave access to a wing of the buiding now demolished. Circles like this are another fairly common manifestation of ritual marks.Ritual marks in their most complex form are not so widely known at present. This may be due to the fact that they are usually very lightly etched or scored on to timbers, sometimes so lightly that they are invisible unless a bright light is aimed obliquely along a beam. When the marks are very light and in areas of a building that are difficult to reach, it seems that they were made by the carpenters or builders prior to the erection of the building. There are also, however, many examples which appear to have been done after the building was erected.
The pioneer of this subject, who has undertaken extensive original research, is Timothy Easton. Without his work this page would not exist. He has begun to unravel the meaning of these marks.
The pioneer of this subject, who has undertaken extensive original research, is Timothy Easton. Without his work this page would not exist. He has begun to unravel the meaning of these marks.
These marks are from the chimney lintel at Camp Green Farm, Debenham, Suffolk. This illustration is from Timothy Easton's article - see below for details of the article.
Another example of Marian marks and a butterfly mark from inside Prince Arthur's Chantry in Worcester Cathedral.
In many examples a recurring theme is a kind of 'M', 'V' and 'W' crossing of lines. 'P' shapes sometimes occur and there can often be a kind of 'grid' effect where parallel lines are drawn at right angles to each other. A good example of this was found at a house in Wilstone, Shropshire. Many of the marks look rather like strings of runes or even ancient ogham script but it is likely that this is simply the product of the choice of tools and the nature of the surface on to which they've been written.
Deliberate burn marks are also often found. These are made by holding a flame against a timber and repeatedly scraping away the carbon layer which forms to make a deep flame shaped mark. They are particularly common on chimney lintels but can be found literally anywhere on timbers. This example is from the fireplace at Little Hall, Lavenham.
Recently a whole load of marks were discovered in a house in the USA - find out more here.
Recommended reading:
Brian Hoggard and Alicia Jessup, ‘Llancaiach Fawr Manor: Fortified Against Evil’, The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings Magazine, Autumn 2017 , pp51-5.
Timothy Easton, ‘Scribed and Painted Symbols’, in Paul Oliver (ed), Vernacular Architecture of the World, 1997/8 (four vols), CUP.
Timothy Easton, ‘Ritual Marks on Historic Timber’, Weald and Downland Open Air Museum Magazine, Spring 1999, pp22-30.
Brian Hoggard, 'The archaeology of counter-witchcraft and popular magic', in Owen Davies & Willem de Blecourt, Beyond the Witch-Trials, 2004, Manchester University Press, pp167-186.
If you click here you can view a summary of an article about some marks found in Goatchurch Cavern, North Somerset.
Recommended reading:
Brian Hoggard and Alicia Jessup, ‘Llancaiach Fawr Manor: Fortified Against Evil’, The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings Magazine, Autumn 2017 , pp51-5.
Timothy Easton, ‘Scribed and Painted Symbols’, in Paul Oliver (ed), Vernacular Architecture of the World, 1997/8 (four vols), CUP.
Timothy Easton, ‘Ritual Marks on Historic Timber’, Weald and Downland Open Air Museum Magazine, Spring 1999, pp22-30.
Brian Hoggard, 'The archaeology of counter-witchcraft and popular magic', in Owen Davies & Willem de Blecourt, Beyond the Witch-Trials, 2004, Manchester University Press, pp167-186.
If you click here you can view a summary of an article about some marks found in Goatchurch Cavern, North Somerset.