Survey Report St Mary the Virgin, Calstone Wellington January 2020 Introduction Today the church of St Mary the Virgin today lies in isolation at the base of the Cherhill downs south of the main A4 road between Calne and Cherhill, Wiltshire SU027681, Lat/long 51.412520,-1.962587. The church was rebuilt in the mid 15th Century on the site of an earlier church. The porch timbers come from a later date. The density of graffiti within the church porch is unsurpassed in the county and reveals much about how symbolism was important throughout the post-medieval period. This goes beyond simply making your mark, the amount and variety of graffiti here suggests toleration & encouragement. Within this report we include a photographic survey of the graffiti, offer some interpretation and the methodology used to capture the essence of the symbology. Wiltshire Medieval Graffiti Survey This project was set up in 2014 in order to record historical graffiti and re-use of stone throughout the county of Wiltshire. We continue to support and communicate with similar projects through the UK and Europe, allowing for the development of common recording techniques and a shared terminology for classification. Research Aims & Objectives (i) To systematically record historical graffiti, inscriptions, re-uses of stone using non-invasive methods. (ii) To present findings in a format that is comprehensive and offers a typology that may include; apotropaic symbolism, folk art, names and dates and Christian symbolism. (iii) To increase knowledge and understanding of a building from a social perspective. How folk made their mark and why. How the location of these marks is represented in terms of a buildings use and how this may have changed over time. How the typology of marks may differ over time and how symbology may be interpreted. (iv) To disseminate results to interested parties, share research in order to increase understanding on a wider scale. (v) To promote and encourage both academic and public interest and participation. Methodology WMGS uses non-invasive techniques when recording generally in the form of digital photography using an oblique, raking light. Photographic scales are used for reference via a clip holder; There is no physical interaction with the stone (or any type of) surface to preserve fabric and prevent erosion. A site plan is drawn to show the location of graffiti and a photographic log records frame number, location and a brief description. For complex, unusual and significant pieces other forms of recording such as Reflectance Transformation Imaging (R.T.I.) may be used. This is a recording methodology that allows a computer program to incorporate multiple lighting patterns into a format that can be manipulated to provide detail on specific areas of the subject. Outside of the formal recording we encourage participation by artists to produce other dimensions to the survey. This is often in the form of creative drawing & painting and extends to using analogue film to create artwork using double exposure and other techniques. We find that this broadens the scope of the project and allows us to present and engage with the public in a variety of ways. Cross slab found within the church grounds North Porch The north porch is the focal point for the graffiti at St Mary’s. Being the main entrance to the church the pathway draws the visitor up a slight slope through the church gate where at the current time there is a re-use of decorative grave slab lying on the built-up wall. The stone blocks of the wall contain incised roman numerals following no formal pattern. As one leads up to the porch if the light is in your favour you may witness the highly eroded “sickle”- like incisions to the left of the door. These reflect a rare theme within the church as at the time of writing this type of graffiti has only been found at two other churches within Wiltshire. North Porch Exterior L/H images North porch R/H images Eastern Exterior Wall The eastern external wall contains some sporadic initials and dates including the WH associated with Calstone. There are a couple of initials on the western external wall but little of significance. To the south on an external buttress is a graffito we’d visited before but disregarded until, that is, we were showing around members of the Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust. It was mid-afternoon which contrasted with our morning inspection and the sun cast a natural raking light across the motif and one of the sharp eyed members pointed out a set of pantaloons on a prone figure! A great find although its position in a prone position suggests something a little sinister. South Wall Buttress The inner door represents a boundary, a spiritual divide between the porch and the sanctity of the church. On this threshold we see superstition and belief held within such symbolism as the hexafoil, a protective, apotropaic symbol intended to ward off malevolence and perceived evil. The shield motif, which is repeated within stone 11 on the porch east wall, may also offer similar protective qualities although appears unique to Calstone within Wiltshire to date. The same uniqueness can be attributed to other aspects of St Mary the Virgin not least with the repetitive “WH” which we can see here at the top of the door jamb in what may be an informal memorial. It may also be a religious dedication and offer some protective as can be seen on the Pashen tomb at Sherrington where rain water is encouraged to flow through the letters; https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1181467 The presence of one William Hiscots on stone 2 on the porch west wall may offer a simpler explanation and a connection to the church that is yet to be determined is held within the multiple events of “WH” as an informal tribute or variable contextual meaning. Inner Door The informal memorial theme is continued within the woodwork of the inner door with “WH” again represented. “WS” is also oft repeated at Calstone. A small “W” or interlocked “VV” marks can also be seen. This may be a recognised Marian mark, a collection of symbols signifying an evocation of the Virgin Mary the crossed VV may be interpreted as Virgo Virginum (Virgin of Virgins) although caution is advised on this interpretation and again is appropriately utilised in different forms at Calstone church. Clockwise from lower left: Hexafoil, WS memorial, WH memorial, shield motif. East Wall Porch Inner Inner door from top clockwise: W.H., W, illegible, WH, P.R. East Wall Interior Stone 1 There are a number of bell graffiti at St Mary the Virgin, some well executed like this one and others less so. This example, simply drawn was discovered using lighting and a large screen. Stone 2 William Hiscots 1688. A church porch was often used for legal contracts, marriages and to seal agreements within the confines of God’s house. William Hiscots has remained elusive at the time of publication although there is evidence of local families of that name in Great Cheverell and Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire. It could be argued that the above shows signs of misspelling however this is unlikely and is more about the placing of the letters rather than doubt of their location. WH is repeated throughout the porch and it is unknown as to whether this would refer to William Hiscots, another person or have some element of protective significance. Stone 3 shows a reference to WH 1706 and a lightly inscribed square patterning of unknown origin. Perhaps a field system or similar? Stone 4 Stone 4 is densely populated with graffiti, and overlain. A palimpsest that challenges the viewer. Annotation has allowed us to separate the different designs. Again we see a WH and the second name John Thomas with a date; 1660 we’ve possibly isolated as a witness to a document including another apparent source on the west wall, stone 3. John Jennings Minister of Cherrial. This lends credence to the idea of legalities being signed off in church porches and may account for the named and dated graffiti as being a part of that legal obligation. John Thomas’ signature (c) W&SHC Three interlocking compass drawn circles may offer a sign of the Trinity and are overlaying a finely executed Hobby Hoss the second at Calstone. This was spotted by Abigail Holt on her first visit to Calstone, a welcome addition. Again we see a bell representation, whether this offers a form of dating will be discussed later. Stone 5 hosts a three masted ship, believed to be 17th C. It is incomplete as the hull does not carry over to an adjacent stone and thus may have been moved. This is evident in other stones within the central location on both the east and the west wall. Perhaps evidence of repair rather than re-use. Ship graffiti is common within coastal churches as perhaps a devotional device for a sea journey. Onboard ship sailors are naturally predisposed to superstitious activity and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that it is representative of a blessing for good fortune on a voyage. To date we have five examples of ship graffiti in Wiltshire with the majority of these concentrated in St Sampson’s Cricklade. Finding them is always exciting particularly in the landlocked county of Wiltshire. Stone 5 Stone 7,8,9 Much of the graffiti at Calstone is deeply incised therefore easier to determine with a raking light which is essentially an oblique light cast across the stone surface highlighting detail.