r/medieval_graffiti

Historic scratched glass graffiti at Dorney Court — “Thomas Webb 1706”.

I rarely come across graffiti on glass, which somehow makes it feel much more intimate than carved stone graffiti. Unlike marks cut into church walls, scratched glass survives almost by accident, one broken pane and the history disappears forever.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, people sometimes used diamond rings or metal points to inscribe names into window glass in manor houses, inns, and historic buildings. Seeing a name and a date quietly surviving on a Tudor window for more than 300 years feels oddly personal.

Thomas Webb, 1706, still here.

A deeply carved “Z” on a wooden bench in the Great Hall at Petworth House.
Not the grandest example of historic graffiti, but perhaps that’s what makes it interesting.

A single initial, cut hard enough to survive generations of visitors, servants, guests, guides, and restorations.

Found this writing on the walls inside the prison cells of the Doge’s Palace. It looks like part of a Latin phrase (something like “olim et tangere”) with a name underneath.

Prisoners held here, both in the damp cells below and under the lead roof—used to leave behind writings, drawings, and names to pass time and basically prove they were there. Not all were typical criminals either; some were political prisoners or accused of heresy. Even people like Giacomo Casanova were locked up here at one point.

About a month ago, a Reddit user sent me an unpublished poster of medieval graffiti, something passed on to him decades ago. I’ve taken it as a personal challenge to analyse, interpret, and (hopefully one day) trace some of these carvings back to their original locations.

This one is labelled Faversham—likely from All Saints Church or another historic church in the area.

At first glance, it looks like two profile faces. But the contrast is striking:

one is smooth, calm, almost idealised… the other exaggerated, with a heavier nose and a more expressive, possibly older face.

I can’t help wondering if this could be a generational caricature—a younger person sketching an older woman. Maybe a mother or grandmother figure.

If that’s the case… what were they arguing about?

Chores? Marriage? Behaviour in church?

Or is this reading way too modern—and it’s something else entirely?

Curious to hear your interpretations 👀