The witch bottle is one of the most recognisable magical objects
found among the repertoire of items intentionally concealed in
ancient buildings. Its squat, anthropomorphic form, accentuated by
the fearsome bearded face or mask decoration gives the bulbous,
salt-glazed jug an almost human appearance. One of the most famous
artefacts of this type was the Greenwich Witch Bottle which was
discovered still sealed with its contents intact, which allowed for
full scientific analysis.
Witch bottles often contain human urine and nail cuttings -
combined with bent pins and nails – which has all the hallmarks of
a non-Christian, even heretical ‘ritual’ act. Their association
with the ritual protection of the house is clear, but were they
intended to act as a decoy to divert evil influences, to function
as a spirit trap or to work as a counter-witchcraft measure,
designed to fend off the possibility of psychic attack or
bewitchment?
This illustrated talk will act as both an introduction to the
current understanding of the use of witch bottles, as well as
outlining a number of different ways in which they were deployed
over time.
Tickets £12 including a Victorian punch and
a 20% donation to a host of restoration projects at Kensal Green
Cemetery. Please click here to purchase.
WAYNE PERKINS
Wayne Perkins, is an
archaeologist with over twenty two years of experience working as a
Field Archaeologist with Oxford Archaeology before working on
excavations at Rom and at Prisse-la-Charriere, Niort and France's
premier scientific organization, I.N.R.A.P. s well as for a number
of companies He now undertakes Historic Building Surveys and
supervise urban excavations in the City of London as well as
overseeing rural excavations in surrounding Sussex, Surrey & Kent
and is currently researching medieval & historic graffiti found in
the buildings of England and France.
| Ticket | Event time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Witch Bottles
LMOD Ticket
|
15:30 - 17:00 | £12.00 |
Address
The Dissenters' Chapel, Kensal Green Cemetery, 391 Ladbroke Grove, London, W10 5AB
Nearest Station
Ladbroke Grove (Tube)
Getting there
1. The ticket holder voluntarily assumes all risks and danger incidental to the event for which the ticket is issued, whether occurring prior, during or after the event. The ticket holder voluntarily agrees that the management, venue, event participants, DesignMyNight WFL Media Ltd and all of their respective agents, officers, directors, owners and employers are expressly released by the ticket holder from any claims arising from such causes.
2. Tickets are issued subject to the rules and regulations of the venue.
3. Please check your tickets, as mistakes cannot always be rectified.
4. Occasionally, events are cancelled or postponed by the promoter, team, performer or venue for a variety of reasons. If the event is cancelled, please contact us for information on receiving a refund from the responsible party. If the event was moved or rescheduled, the venue or promoter may set refund limitations. It is your responsibility to ascertain the date and time of any rearranged event.
5. The venue reserves the right to refuse admission and may on occasion have to conduct security searches to ensure the safety of the patrons.
6. Every effort to admit latecomers will be made at a suitable break in the event, but admission cannot always be guaranteed.
7. We regret that tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded after purchase.
8. Tickets are sold subject to the venue or promoter's right to alter or vary the programme due to events or circumstances beyond its control without being obliged to refund monies or exchange tickets.
9. If this ticket is re-sold or transferred for profit or commercial gain by anyone other than the promoter, venue management, DesignMyNight or one of their authorised sub-agents, it will become voidable and the holder may be
refused entry to or ejected from the venue.
10. The venue may operate a No Smoking Policy.
11. The promoter, venue management and DesignMyNight accept no responsibility for any personal property.
12. The event listed on the purchased ticket is strictly for ticket holders who are over 18 years of age. Identification may be required.