Period Apotropaios

[88v8]

We buried a bag in the core of our stone staircase, pics - probably will fade - brief note about ourselves, newspaper, coin.

In our previous house, I signed much of my woodwork.

We like to be immortal.

Ivor

 

[philpjuk100]

We dug a "test pit" in the garden and before filling it in put a large jar in with some pics,some detais about the family and world events and our mobile number and email address! all 1.2 mtrs down! Have found "petal" witch marks on a fire place and door frame and in cracks in the oak beams we have found coins,a seal and what we thought were a couple of bronze finger rings but have been told by the local small finds unit they are the handles from candle sticks.We may add a few commemorative coins ourselves.The pic is a watch chain type seal we found in a crack,we cleaned all the varnish and "crud" from it and re inserted it.

 

[Feltwell]

When they come to demolish my garage they'll find a genuine pink 1970's bath suite in all the rubble under the suspended floor. Doesn't quite count really does it?

 

[Penners]

A nice little picture story, Zebra, but I'm worried about what you'll wear from now on.

Will it have to be the stiletto hooves?

 

[Zebra]

Alas I really liked those boots, even though they were knackered. But it wouldn't count if it was something I didn't value, would it?
Penners, if you mean these:
http://periodproperty.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13883&p=190414&hilit=kinky+boots#p190414
then no way! Not on the new floor. I shall just have to hop.

 

[Penners]

Penners, if you mean these

I'd imagined something more like...

 

[Zebra]

That
is
too
weird!

 

[Penners]

You mean... weirder than a zebra laying floorboards, eh?

 

[Zebra]

At least there are no dead animal parts in my floorboards.
Oh, apart from the woodworm corpses, I suppose.

 

[LadyArowana]

At least there are no dead animal parts in my floorboards.
Oh, apart from the woodworm corpses, I suppose.

:shock: dead people parts? Wildlife poachers I suppose.

 

[Flyfisher]

No particular reason for resurrecting this topic other than this apparently random report on the BBC News website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-41507752

 

[Penners]

So *that's* what happened to my best Sunday-go-to-meeting boots.

I trust someone will give them a rub with the Cherry Blossom before they're returned to me.

 

[Zebra]

Thank you Flyfisher, for that link. There's a lot of interesting points there about the custom. Some theories I hadn't heard before (so intriguing that nobody really knows), about why shoes in particular were left, and why they were often children's.....

 

[Feltwell]

why they were often children's.....

That's easy. As the father of a teenager I can assure you that a used pair of teenager's trainers will ward off most things..... :lol:

 

[Zebra]

Here's our found shoe, kept in a plastic box, with a sachet of dessicant, under the stairs.

 

[Flyfisher]

There's a lot of interesting points there about the custom. Some theories I hadn't heard before (so intriguing that nobody really knows), about why shoes in particular were left, and why they were often children's.....

My thought is that children's shoes, in general, would have been the most readily available. The adult occupants of such houses might occasionally discard wear out their shoes but children would be regularly outgrowing their shoes well before they were worn out. Yes, they might be kept and handed down to younger siblings but in general I'd venture that a child's shoe would be more easy to come by when looking for something to bung up a chimney. Also with child mortality rates being significantly higher in the 'good old days', that might be another source of 'spare' shoes