Paid a visit to Clun Church in Shropshire today after a tip-off from David. The incredible daisy wheel is on the rear of the front which has been positioned so that it's almost invisible. The motif appears in the choir stalls too. www.apotropaios.co.uk

Edinburgh event! Don't forget friends that we will be in Edinburgh on Saturday 17th April 2027 to run Hidden Charms 6. It promises to be another great day with 8 fascinating speakers. All welcome and tickets via the link... www.apotropaios.co.uk

2/2 Oxhill Church, Warwickshire. Inside is a wreath discovered hanging in the roof and a brilliant font with Adam and Eve. Outside the South door is a feast of Romanesque with lots of power flowers. www.apotropaios.co.uk

1/2 Oxhill Church, Warwickshire. The porch has several mesh marks, a circle and some apotropaic crosses. www.apotropaios.co.uk

At Tysoe Church in Warwickshire it's all about apotropaic crosses and Marian marks... www.apotropaios.co.uk

Bishampton Church is 5 mins down the road from where I live. It has an incredible font which I've known about for years and which I've posted about before. Today I thought I would post a video of it so you can admire it for yourselves :-) www.apotropaios.co.uk

My book is available widely online but all those ordered from my website are signed :-) www.apotropaios.co.uk/store/p1/mag...

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

Apotropaios

Apotropaios - the site all about deliberately concealed objects which were used to protect house occupants from perceived dark forces. Brian Hoggard (author) has been researching this subject since 19...

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. (magicalmarksalderton@gmail.com)

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