Symbols found on the walls of medieval English buildings, long thought to be protective charms or imbued with mystical meanings, have been identified by architectural historians as practice marks left by stonemasons. These markings, often referred to as daisy wheels or hexafoils, are prevalent in churches and houses across England.
Professor Jennifer Alexander, a professor of architectural history at Warwick University, suggests that the geometric designs were essentially scribbles used to train apprentices. She likens the creation of a daisy wheel with a compass to a common childhood activity, but notes the increased difficulty of executing such designs on stone surfaces.
"It's much more the sort of thing you'd use to train apprentices with, giving them skills in using tools on intractable surfaces like stone," Alexander stated. She explained that drawing a complete circle with a compass on stone can be challenging due to wrist positioning, requiring practice to achieve clean lines.
A 2024 discovery by English Heritage volunteer Rick Berry at Gainsborough Old Hall in Lincolnshire had previously led to speculation that simpler circular carvings, distinct from the hexafoil design, might have been intended to trap demons. However, Professor Alexander has stated there is "absolutely no evidence" to support the idea that these marks were related to witchcraft or protective rituals.
Historic England has previously noted the widespread presence of these symbols, with the hexafoil or daisy wheel being the most common. The survey indicated these marks appear on various buildings, from medieval structures to those from the 19th century, with some later examples being more recent than initially expected.
The clarification of these ancient markings comes after recent scientific analysis debunked the authenticity of the famous Cottingley Fairies photographs, which had also captured public imagination for over a century. Scientists examined the cameras used in the 1920s and found no irregularities, although the individuals who took the photos eventually admitted to staging some of them.