Apotropaios
@folkmagicman.bsky.social
Researcher of strange things found in walls and under floors since 1999... FSA. Author of Magical House Protection & Bredon Hill. Guitar player!
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
After a talk I gave in Dunster the lovely folks from The Old Manor came to tell me about this old East European marriage chest they have in the chapel. Those in the know will see two columns of saltire crosses running down each side of the daisy-wheel.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
December 14, 2025 at 2:57 PM
After a talk I gave in Dunster the lovely folks from The Old Manor came to tell me about this old East European marriage chest they have in the chapel. Those in the know will see two columns of saltire crosses running down each side of the daisy-wheel.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
Just to let you all know the book about St Swithun's Church is now available at the Tourist Information office at the Guildhall in Worcester. Of course it's still available online too.
www.apotropaios.co.uk/shop.html
www.apotropaios.co.uk/shop.html
December 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Just to let you all know the book about St Swithun's Church is now available at the Tourist Information office at the Guildhall in Worcester. Of course it's still available online too.
www.apotropaios.co.uk/shop.html
www.apotropaios.co.uk/shop.html
More protection marks... Concentric circles and a deliberate burn mark from the Lantern Chamber at Tewkesbury Abbey.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
December 10, 2025 at 6:18 PM
More protection marks... Concentric circles and a deliberate burn mark from the Lantern Chamber at Tewkesbury Abbey.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
The Tithe Barn at Dunster has many large daisy wheels like this one on it's walls. It was a fab venue for my talk yesterday
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
December 7, 2025 at 4:43 PM
The Tithe Barn at Dunster has many large daisy wheels like this one on it's walls. It was a fab venue for my talk yesterday
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
December 6, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Tomorrow I am speaking at Dunster Winter Festival, in the Tithe Barn at 4pm. Hopefully I'll see some of you there.
www.dunsterwinterfestival.co.uk
www.dunsterwinterfestival.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Tomorrow I am speaking at Dunster Winter Festival, in the Tithe Barn at 4pm. Hopefully I'll see some of you there.
www.dunsterwinterfestival.co.uk
www.dunsterwinterfestival.co.uk
This grotesque is one of the homeless sculptures to be found in the main church at Cranborne, Dorset. The toothy stuff of nightmares!
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 7:28 PM
This grotesque is one of the homeless sculptures to be found in the main church at Cranborne, Dorset. The toothy stuff of nightmares!
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
Sad to report that June Swann, who pioneered research into concealed shoes, passed away just over a week ago. One of her articles is on my website if you want to take a look. She was always really generous with her knowledge.
www.apotropaios.co.uk/concealed-sh...
www.apotropaios.co.uk/concealed-sh...
November 29, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Sad to report that June Swann, who pioneered research into concealed shoes, passed away just over a week ago. One of her articles is on my website if you want to take a look. She was always really generous with her knowledge.
www.apotropaios.co.uk/concealed-sh...
www.apotropaios.co.uk/concealed-sh...
For anyone interested in Worcester history there is a book launch tomorrow at St Swithun's Church, 12noon. It's a great book and even has a short section on protection marks in it.
www.apotropaios.co.uk/store/p16/St...
www.apotropaios.co.uk/store/p16/St...
November 28, 2025 at 2:58 PM
For anyone interested in Worcester history there is a book launch tomorrow at St Swithun's Church, 12noon. It's a great book and even has a short section on protection marks in it.
www.apotropaios.co.uk/store/p16/St...
www.apotropaios.co.uk/store/p16/St...
My next talk is in the wonderful village of Dunster, near Minehead. Details here:
www.dunsterwinterfestival.co.uk/event-detail...
www.dunsterwinterfestival.co.uk/event-detail...
November 23, 2025 at 10:27 AM
My next talk is in the wonderful village of Dunster, near Minehead. Details here:
www.dunsterwinterfestival.co.uk/event-detail...
www.dunsterwinterfestival.co.uk/event-detail...
Witch-bottles are one of my favourite topics - there's a large chapter on them in my book. This x-ray of the Greenwich bottle was organised by Dr Alan Massey, we've worked together on many bottles.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Witch-bottles are one of my favourite topics - there's a large chapter on them in my book. This x-ray of the Greenwich bottle was organised by Dr Alan Massey, we've worked together on many bottles.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
Memento Mori (which means, 'remember, you must die') are a fascinating feature on many old monuments. Some look more startled than others though, like this one from Bosbury, Herefordshire.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Memento Mori (which means, 'remember, you must die') are a fascinating feature on many old monuments. Some look more startled than others though, like this one from Bosbury, Herefordshire.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
Very pleased to have received this volume in the post today which I contributed a chapter to. Hurrah!
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Very pleased to have received this volume in the post today which I contributed a chapter to. Hurrah!
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
Today is the day when people felt that the veil between the living and the dead was somewhat thinner. Be sure that you have the proper protection in place, especially tonight... :-)
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Today is the day when people felt that the veil between the living and the dead was somewhat thinner. Be sure that you have the proper protection in place, especially tonight... :-)
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
Had good fun giving a lecture for Tewkesbury Museum this evening. A good turnout, some familiar faces and lots of great find reports.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
October 28, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Had good fun giving a lecture for Tewkesbury Museum this evening. A good turnout, some familiar faces and lots of great find reports.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
A gentle reminder that I'm giving a talk in Tewkesbury this coming Tuesday at 7pm. Would be great to see lots of you there :-)
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
October 25, 2025 at 10:55 AM
A gentle reminder that I'm giving a talk in Tewkesbury this coming Tuesday at 7pm. Would be great to see lots of you there :-)
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
An interesting pattern here essentially following six points around a circle (like a daisy-wheel) but overlapping along an entire block. Discovered by the vergers over the weekend at about 7/8ft up the column, near the entrance at Tewkesbury.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
October 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
An interesting pattern here essentially following six points around a circle (like a daisy-wheel) but overlapping along an entire block. Discovered by the vergers over the weekend at about 7/8ft up the column, near the entrance at Tewkesbury.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
My next talk is happening in Tewkesbury. Please do come along...
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
October 18, 2025 at 7:56 AM
My next talk is happening in Tewkesbury. Please do come along...
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
Had great fun speaking to an enthusiastic audience tonight. Do check out Script Haven if you're ever in Worcester.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
October 15, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Had great fun speaking to an enthusiastic audience tonight. Do check out Script Haven if you're ever in Worcester.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
Popped into Bath Abbey the other day and spotted a collection of overlapping circles outside the vestry and a Marian mark in the South aisle. I'm sure there's much more there and other people have been there first but it was a fleeting visit...
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
October 11, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Popped into Bath Abbey the other day and spotted a collection of overlapping circles outside the vestry and a Marian mark in the South aisle. I'm sure there's much more there and other people have been there first but it was a fleeting visit...
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
Found a couple more Marian marks on the high walkway above the High Altar at Tewkesbury Abbey today. This building just keeps on giving...
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
October 3, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Found a couple more Marian marks on the high walkway above the High Altar at Tewkesbury Abbey today. This building just keeps on giving...
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
If you're at all interested in why people used to conceal objects in their houses to ward off evil then there's a good chance you would find my book useful.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
September 29, 2025 at 12:35 PM
If you're at all interested in why people used to conceal objects in their houses to ward off evil then there's a good chance you would find my book useful.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
My next public lecture is at Script Haven in Worcester on Wednesday 15th October. It will be all about Protection Marks, please do come along 🙂
wegottickets.com/event/674251
wegottickets.com/event/674251
September 25, 2025 at 4:16 PM
My next public lecture is at Script Haven in Worcester on Wednesday 15th October. It will be all about Protection Marks, please do come along 🙂
wegottickets.com/event/674251
wegottickets.com/event/674251
Had a great day yesterday running tours of the marvellous apotropaic marks at Tewkesbury Abbey. Thanks to everyone who came along, you were all lovely.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
September 20, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Had a great day yesterday running tours of the marvellous apotropaic marks at Tewkesbury Abbey. Thanks to everyone who came along, you were all lovely.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
Horse skulls were often concealed within buildings to ward off evil. At a pub called The Portway in Herefordshire 24 were screwed beneath the floor. Find out more in my book, Magical House Protection: The Archaeology of Counter-Witchcraft (Berghahn 2019) www.apotropaios.co.uk
September 13, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Horse skulls were often concealed within buildings to ward off evil. At a pub called The Portway in Herefordshire 24 were screwed beneath the floor. Find out more in my book, Magical House Protection: The Archaeology of Counter-Witchcraft (Berghahn 2019) www.apotropaios.co.uk