Medieval graffiti at Ashwell church
1349-1361
This graffiti found carved into the soft stone bricks of the north wall of the church tower at Ashwell highlights the plight of survivors of the bubonic plague. Three lines of Latin verse proclaim their witness to the devasting plague of 1349, and the great wind on St Maur’s day [1st Jan] a decade later which swept the scourge away.
There is no clue as to who inscribed the graffiti, perhaps it was a priest or monk, or (less likely) a parishioner taking shelter within the church.Written in Latin and in Early English handwriting, these graffiti are challenging to read.
This page was added on 12/08/2011.
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