graffiti
Far left, the inscription would appear to be incomplete, but the capital letter has been fashioned to mimic those used on medieval manuscripts. Left (above), grotesquery at All Saints, Litcham. Left (below), a monogram or merchant’s mark at All Saints
‘THOUGHTHEGRAFFITI OF SHIPS AT BLAKENEY CHURCH AREDIFFICULT TOSEE TODAY,WHEN FIRST CREATED THEY WOULDHAVEBEEN
PIGMENTON THE PIERS, CROWDEDWITH
VERY VISIBLE INDEED– A DEEP REDSEA, THE
SMALL, WHITE SHIPS’
graffiti images increased as theymove towards the east end of the aisle. The pier second from the eastern end carries nearly a dozen distinct examples, whilst themost easterly pier, directly facing the site of the aisle altar, hasmore than 20 examples. Indeed, it would be fair to state that this position, at the eastern end of the south aisle, appears to be the focus for all the ship graffiti within the church. Whilst the church is dedicated to St Nicholas, the
original dedication of the side altar is unknown. In addition, located in the southern wall of the south aisle, directly opposite the pier upon which sits the vast majority of the ship graffiti, is a decorated image niche. Although the niche appears largely to be a 19th or early 20th century replacement, the position appears to be original. The niche, although now empty, would have once held the decorated image of a saint. It is therefore likely that the concentration of the graffiti in this area of the church relates directly to either the image niche or to the side altar. The other remarkable observation concerning the
Blakeney ships is that, although they are difficult to see today, when first created they would have been very visible indeed. Examination has shown that, during the Middle Ages, the piers were painted a
deep red colour. A lack of pigment within the lines of the graffiti itself indicates that they were scratched through the red paint to expose the pale stone beneath. The result would have been striking. A deep red sea crowded with small, white ships. Themost obvious conclusion is that these ship
images were created as act of devotion over a period of time. Prayers, perhaps, from those whose loved ones were in peril upon the sea? A thank you for a safe journey undertaken, or a plea for safe passage on journeys yet to come? The most striking feature about these graceful acts of devotion is that they are very clearly personal intercessions, which did not require the mediation of parish priest or Bishop, between the congregation and the very fabric of the church building. Designed to be visible to all, but a personal plea on behalf of the images creator direct to the Creator of the sea itself.
PERHAPS one of the most remarkable discoveries so far made by the NMGS is that made at Binham Priory, a few miles inland from Blakeney. To historians of architecture, in particular the development of the Early English Gothic style, BinhamPriory is familiar. Themagnificent West
Cornerstone, Vol 32, No 2 2011 31
NMGS
NMGS
NMGS
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