Title: Ancient Graffiti Discovered at Lincoln Cathedral
Experts have recently made a remarkable find within Lincoln Cathedral – a multitude of ancient graffiti markings preserved on its historical walls. Tracing back to the 14th Century, these inscriptions incorporate a range of artefacts such as ships, people, footwear, board games, and musical tunes. Initially, the discovery included over 3,000 markings, made in 2018 by a passionate team of volunteers, but the latest survey has resulted in the finding of nearly 6,000 additional instances, all in this Grade I listed monument.
Brian Porter, who spearheads the Lincoln Cathedral graffiti survey project, said, “This unearths an entirely new segment of history that was previously undiscovered.” Since beginning their endeavour in 2018, Mr Porter, along with twelve volunteers, has revealed these remarkable carvings throughout the cathedral’s Gothic structure. He further explained, “These aren’t the result of any official commission. They lack the rigidity of formal art, expressing a more raw and informal style. It’s an individual’s expression.”
Various symbols connected to Christianity and folklore are present within these graffiti markings along with names, initials, and dates. The volunteers are even starting to identify some of the original artists, bringing to the fore the untold stories of individuals from the past. Diverse graffiti works, including a minimum of seven ships, have been catalogued on the cathedral walls.
Pointing out that such historical graffiti isn’t exclusive to cathedrals, Mr. Porter revealed they can be found in various historical sites including castles and houses around the country. “In comparison to the 1960s, when these investigations were scarce, it’s become a favourite activity today, as people are incredibly excited to connect their personal history with the past,” he stated. The team has documented more than 8,600 markings on the cathedral ground floor and expects to find many more.
Guided tours centred on the cathedral graffiti are accessible every Monday at 10:30 GMT and are scheduled to change to 14:00 on Thursdays come the new year.
This reporting is based on original content from www.bbc.com, as adapted by The Lincoln Post.
