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
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
More discoveries in Tewkesbury Abbey this morning. This time a circle for protection and a Marian mark invoking the presence of the Virgin Mary in the south transept roof void.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
September 2, 2025 at 3:11 PM
More discoveries in Tewkesbury Abbey this morning. This time a circle for protection and a Marian mark invoking the presence of the Virgin Mary in the south transept roof void.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
Upton Snodsbury church (Worcs) has some fine features which I've admired previously including these lovely big daisy-wheels. My friend Catherine Owers visited the tower recently (usually off limits) and spotted these brilliant faces and circles next to the ringing room.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
August 31, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Upton Snodsbury church (Worcs) has some fine features which I've admired previously including these lovely big daisy-wheels. My friend Catherine Owers visited the tower recently (usually off limits) and spotted these brilliant faces and circles next to the ringing room.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
A bit of advance notice for my next talk at Script Haven, Worcester which is on Wednesday 15th October. Tickets here wegottickets.com/event/674251
See here for my other talks: www.apotropaios.co.uk/lectures.html
See here for my other talks: www.apotropaios.co.uk/lectures.html
August 25, 2025 at 3:50 PM
A bit of advance notice for my next talk at Script Haven, Worcester which is on Wednesday 15th October. Tickets here wegottickets.com/event/674251
See here for my other talks: www.apotropaios.co.uk/lectures.html
See here for my other talks: www.apotropaios.co.uk/lectures.html
Visited Imber Church (The Churches Conservation Trust) today which is usually isolated in a military live fire exercise zone but not today. Big thanks to Tony Hack for the exclusive tour of the markings in the tower. There is a huge amount of interest to gawk at in this church.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
August 23, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Visited Imber Church (The Churches Conservation Trust) today which is usually isolated in a military live fire exercise zone but not today. Big thanks to Tony Hack for the exclusive tour of the markings in the tower. There is a huge amount of interest to gawk at in this church.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
The font at Kingham, Oxfordshire has what appears to be a large mesh mark on it.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
August 18, 2025 at 4:21 PM
The font at Kingham, Oxfordshire has what appears to be a large mesh mark on it.
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
Thanks to the @forteantimes.bsky.social and Rob Gandy for this nice feature in issue 461 about Hidden Charms 5 which took place at St Fagan's Museum, Cardiff back in April. The next one will be in Edinburgh in April 2027... 🙂 www.apotropaios.co.uk
August 16, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Thanks to the @forteantimes.bsky.social and Rob Gandy for this nice feature in issue 461 about Hidden Charms 5 which took place at St Fagan's Museum, Cardiff back in April. The next one will be in Edinburgh in April 2027... 🙂 www.apotropaios.co.uk
Visited Rock Church (Worcs) on Monday. Fantastic Romanesque details, huge, Saxon altar stone, cool font and also has stocks and whipping post which were once positioned nearby. A lot of interesting features here...
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
August 14, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Visited Rock Church (Worcs) on Monday. Fantastic Romanesque details, huge, Saxon altar stone, cool font and also has stocks and whipping post which were once positioned nearby. A lot of interesting features here...
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
Pinvin Church, Worcestershire. A small church close to where I live but lots of good marks in the porch. It also has some fantastic medieval wall paintings...
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk
August 10, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Pinvin Church, Worcestershire. A small church close to where I live but lots of good marks in the porch. It also has some fantastic medieval wall paintings...
www.apotropaios.co.uk
www.apotropaios.co.uk