churches
St Saviour’s church was dedicated in 1372 as a chapel of ease, under the Church of St Clement at Townstal, but parts of the building may be earlier. It was enlarged in the late 14th/early 15th century, and has undergone various building works including major refurbishments in the 1630’s and in the late 19th century.
Most of the graffiti is found on some of the piers, and on the back of the rood screen. Examples include a rare architectural sketch of the top of a window, merchants marks, names and initials, hexafoils (daisy wheels), crosses and Marian type marks.
churches
The church of St Blaise was built in the 1230’s by Stephen de Haccombe , in thanks for his safe return from the Sixth Crusade. The bell in the bellcote is said to date to 1230. The church was enlarged about a century later, for the establishment of a college of six chantry priests (1335). The building was restored in the 19th century.
Most of the graffiti is on the limestone surround of the south door and the door itself, the sedilia, and on the limestone capital against the west wall.
The deeply carved graffiti on the sedilia includes a number of 17th century initials and dates. It is not known what the XXX in the main group signifies. It could alternatively be read as an interlocking W and M – a probable Marian mark. The reversed 4’s are interesting, but not that unusual. It is possible that these inscriptions represent memorials, but we do not know for sure.
On the south doorway, the inscription ‘I H 1230’ seems likely to be a reference to the founding and founder of the church, although the inscription was presumably made in a later period. The second initial may stand for Haccombe.
Also on the south doorway, the letter W seems likely to be a Marian mark. The ornate letter P is perhaps an initial, although lone letter P’s are not uncommon and it is suspected that they sometimes had another, protective, significance.
churches
The South transept and possibly part of the south wall of the nave and chancel are believed to date from the 13th century. The church was largely rebuilt, and the tower erected, in 1407-9. The north aisle was built by the Haydon family in the early 16th century. The building was extensively restored by the incumbent, Rev. J. L. Fulford, especially in 1849-52. The roofs were replaced and another general restoration carried out in 1893.
The graffiti includes compass-made circles, ladders, letters (including initials), W’s/M’s (probable Marian marks), crosses, grids, dots/holes and other scored marks.
Many marks are concentrated on a single pier of the north aisle, with occasional other examples throughout the nave and chancel and on the exterior. There is a re-sited mass dial (upside-down) inside the south doorway, and in the tower another apparent former dial (feint radiating lines) is built into the wall of the ringing chamber.
There is graffiti all around the ringing chamber doorway including the name Wylliam ?heydjon, several crosses, a grid/net, and other deliberate marks.
