Rochester Cathedral Research Guild Homepage: www.rochestercathedralresearchguild.org RCL17r09 A photographic survey of heraldic, pictorial and symbolic graffiti at Rochester Cathedral Part 1: report text Abstract: Archive report on a photographic survey of unclassified pictorial and symbolic graffiti from Rochester Cathedral. To cite this report: Scott, J. H. (2017) A photographic survey of heraldic, pictorial and symbolic graffiti at Rochester Cathedral, Rochester Cathedral Research Guild archive report RCL17r09. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22357/2017(9) To link to this article: https://rochestercathedralresearchguild.org/reports/rcl17r09 Published online: 26 th May 2017 General Queries: jacob.scott@rochestercathedralresearchguild.org Produced by permission of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester Cathedral. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Any views and opinions expressed in this work are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Dean and Chapter.
1 Contents (table 1) Section Title Page 2 Background 1 3 Field methodology 1 4 Post-processing 1 5 Data delivery, reporting and archiving (inc. table 2) 1 6 Index of records (table 3) 2 7 Bibliography 3 8 Acknowledgements 4 2 Background 2.1 In 2016 and 2017 a photographic survey was conducted of medieval and post-medieval graffiti at Rochester Cathedral by the Rochester Cathedral Research Guild, a site particularly rich in surviving early examples of both. The archive reports of these surveys were divided into categories, largely based on interpretations proposed or detailed by Champion (2015) such as medieval ship graffiti, pilgrim s crosses and compass-drawn designs. Similar reports covering categories identified as post-medieval are planned for the coming months. This report details pictorial and symbolic graffiti within the cathedral which does not easily fall into these categories. 2.2 Some of the symbols presented here may be as-yet unidentified merchant s marks or heraldic symbols. These will likely be moved to a separate report if defined categories with common characteristics can be identified. 2.3 Much erosion has occurred to the graffiti so here we have photographed and digitally traced the inscribed images to serve as a record of their current state. Further images undoubtedly remain unidentified so future raking light surveys may well add to these records. 3 Field methodology 3.1 Photographs have been taken with a Canon EOS 100D with kit lens at 18mm. Raking light has been used to illuminate all records. 4 Post-processing 4.1 Photographs have been rectified to remove barrel lens distortion using GIMP imageediting software v.2.8.18 (Filters/Lens Distortion/Main -10%). Traces have been produced using Microsoft Paint. 5 Data delivery, reporting and archiving 5.1 Report will be published in PDF format on the Rochester Cathedral Research Guild website at www.rochestercathedralresearchguild.org. 5.2 A link for internet download of image files and raw counterparts will be provided for purposes of academic research, subject to Chapter approval, upon email request to jacob.scott@rochestercathedralresearchguild.org. 5.3 A PDF version of this final report will be provided to the Dean and Chapter for their records. 5.4 Digital copies of the report, photographs and tracings will be provided to Kent Historic Environment Record. Rochester Cathedral Research Guild archive report RCL17r09 Page 1 of 4
5.5 Version history (table 2) Version Date Alterations By 01 26th May 2017 Published online J. H. Scott 02 14th October 2017 Reformatted in accordance with guidance from the Archaeology Data Service J. H. Scott 6 Index of records (table 3) No. Description Height from floor (cm) 01 Three deep incised lines arranged in downward-facing arrow 186 02 Image of Skull and Crossbones 127 03 Two image of gargoyles, labbelled as such 123 04 Crude circle intersected by many lines, possibly in imitation of a multifoil design 94 05 Triangle, possibly associated with inscription immediately underneath 138 06 Crude Heraldic shield 125 07 Crude heraldic shield 97 08 Crude heraldic shield 96 08.2 Small petalled design, possibly flower 84 09 Four deep incised lines arranged as an unrecognised symbol 173 10 Deep incised image of a symbolic nature within which a cross is central 142 11 Incised lines, possibly in the shape of a pentogram 141 12 Deep cut in the shape of a heraldic shield 103 13 Crude heraldic shield/flag 89 14 Four-legged creature, possibly a deer with antlers 140 15 Face in profile, likely a male, wearing a hat 97 17 Face in profile wearing a hat 133 16 Small hand, possibly with one (stubby?) finger pointed upward 121 24 Animal or beast, possibly a dragon with wings 73 19 Crude heraldic shield 20 Outline of a heraldic shield 21 Two men in profile, possibly hooded monks 96 22 Geometric square shape 117 23 Crude heraldic shield (117cm) 117 24 Five shallow incised lines arranged in a pentagram (141cm) 141 26 Five shallow incised lines arranged in a pentagram (124cm) 124 27 Three deep incised lines arranged in downward-facing arrow (62cm) 62 18 Symbol composed of seven deep incised lines, possibly a merchant s mark, traced in pencil (158cm) 158 28 Image, likely a miniature of the close-by Majestas (75cm) 75 29 Bowl-shape single deep incised line, possibly fragmentary thirteenth-century pictorial engraving (97cm) 97 30 Crude heraldic shield (77cm) 77 31 Crude heraldic shield (79cm) 79 Rochester Cathedral Research Guild archive report RCL17r09 Page 2 of 4
No. Description Height from floor (cm) 32 A booted foot, possibly with superimposed crucifix (96cm) 96 33 Four light but wide incised lines in the shape of an asterix (149cm) 149 34 Incised image of a stylised heraldic shield (cm) 35 Incised image of a stylised heraldic shield (cm) 36 Five shallow incised lines arranged in a pentagram (144cm) 144 37 Black painted lines in an unrecognised shape (119cm) 119 38 Three identical unrecognised symbols or possibly images of palm trees (68cm) 68 39 Large elaborate incised stylised flower-like design (84cm) 84 40 Black painted lines in an unidentified pattern (167cm) 167 41 Two small flowers (124cm) 124 42 A small flower (127cm) 127 43 Four small flowers (138cm) 138 44 Black painted lines in a grid pattern (166cm) 166 45 Star of David (155cm) 155 46 A star shape (223cm) 223 47 Thin incised lines, possibly in the shape of a pentagram within a hand-drawn circle (105cm) 105 48 Deep incised lines, possibly in a lozenge shape (122cm) 122 49 Deep incised lines in a grid pattern (123cm) 123 50 Image of a face in profile (112cm) 112 51 Unrecognised symbol, possibly associated with 'M9' immediately below (141cm) 141 51.2 Small incomplete dragon (134cm) 134 52 Deep incised lines in a shape reminiscent of a Solomon s knot (137cm) 137 Perhaps a small mask (267cm) 267 53 Image of a head or eye, possibly an elephant (147cm) 147 54 Image of eyes, nose and mouth (221cm) 221 55 Incised lines, possibly in the shape of a pentogram (117cm) 117 56 Small symbol possibly consisting of the letters P and O (144cm) 144 57 Possibly a crude crucifix (174cm) 174 58 Heraldic shield (169cm) 169 2.1 Image, possibly of the face of a robot (96cm) 96 2.2 Deep incised lines depicting cubes (148cm) 148 2.3 Possibly a face in profile (145cm) 145 2.4 Spiral-type design (102cm) 102 2.5 Bird in profile (78cm) 78 2.6 Crude man with a hat (103cm) 103 2.7 Deep incised unidentified symbol, possibly an irregular mason s mark (118cm) 118 7 Bibliography Champion, M. (2015) Medieval Graffiti: The Lost Voices of Britain s Churches. London: Ebury Publishing. Rochester Cathedral Research Guild archive report RCL17r09 Page 3 of 4
8 Acknowledgments The author would like to thank Graham Keevill for his supervision and Alan Minnerthey for graphic design. Rochester Cathedral Research Guild archive report RCL17r09 Page 4 of 4