Medieval Graffiti

p>b>i>A fascinating guide to decoding the secret language of the churches of England through the medieval carved markings and personal etchings found on our church walls from archaeologist Matthew Champion./i>/b>br>br>b>'Rare, lovely glimmers of everyday life in the Middle Ages.' -- i>The Sunday Times/i>/b>br>b>'/b>b>A fascinating and enjoyable read' -- ***** Reader review/b>br>b>'Superb' -- ***** Reader review/b>br>b>'Riveting' -- ***** Reader review/b>br>b>'Compelling, moving and fascinating' -- ***** Reader review/b>br>br>b>*****************************************************************************************************/b>br>Our churches are full of b>hidden messages/b> from years gone by and for centuries these b>carved writings and artworks/b> have lain largely unnoticed.br>br>Having launched a nationwide survey to gather the best examples, b>archaeologist Matthew Champion/b> shines a spotlight on a forgotten world of ships, prayers for good fortune, satirical cartoons, charms, curses, windmills, word puzzles, architectural plans and heraldic designs.br>br>Here are b>strange medieval beasts/b>, b>knights battling unseen dragons/b>, b>ships sailing across lime-washed oceans/b> and b>demons who stalk the walls/b>. b>Latin prayers/b> for the dead jostle with b>medieval curses/b>, b>builders' accounts/b> and b>slanderous comments/b> concerning a long-dead archdeacon.br>br>Strange and complex geometric designs, created to ward off the 'evil eye' and thwart the works of the devil, share church pillars with the heraldic shields of England's medieval nobility.br>br>b>Giving a voice to the secret graffiti artists of Medieval times, this engaging, enthralling and - at times - eye-opening book, with a glossary of key terms and a county-by-county directory of key churches, will put this often overlooked period in a whole new light. /b>/p> p>b>i>A fascinating guide to decoding the secret language of the churches of England through the medieval carved markings and personal etchings found on our church walls from archaeologist Matthew Champion./i>/b>br>br>b>'Rare, lovely glimmers of everyday life in the Middle Ages.' -- i>The Sunday Times/i>/b>br>b>'/b>b>A fascinating and enjoyable read' -- ***** Reader review/b>br>b>'Superb' -- ***** Reader review/b>br>b>'Riveting' -- ***** Reader review/b>br>b>'Compelling, moving and fascinating' -- ***** Reader review/b>br>br>b>*****************************************************************************************************/b>br>Our churches are full of b>hidden messages/b> from years gone by and for centuries these b>carved writings and artworks/b> have lain largely unnoticed.br>br>Having launched a nationwide survey to gather the best examples, b>archaeologist Matthew Champion/b> shines a spotlight on a forgotten world of ships, prayers for good fortune, satirical cartoons, charms, curses, windmills, word puzzles, architectural plans and heraldic designs.br>br>Here are b>strange medieval beasts/b>, b>knights battling unseen dragons/b>, b>ships sailing across lime-washed oceans/b> and b>demons who stalk the walls/b>. b>Latin prayers/b> for the dead jostle with b>medieval curses/b>, b>builders' accounts/b> and b>slanderous comments/b> concerning a long-dead archdeacon.br>br>Strange and complex geometric designs, created to ward off the 'evil eye' and thwart the works of the devil, share church pillars with the heraldic shields of England's medieval nobility.br>br>b>Giving a voice to the secret graffiti artists of Medieval times, this engaging, enthralling and - at times - eye-opening book, with a glossary of key terms and a county-by-county directory of key churches, will put this often overlooked period in a whole new light. /b>/p>