Historic graffiti across the walls of the Cathedral voices the beliefs, work, hopes and fears of those who built, lived, worshipped and visited this special place over the last 900 years.
Since 2018, a team of volunteers have been surveying, recording and sharing this historic graffiti with visitors, as part of a historic graffiti project.
The Historic Graffiti Project
The Canterbury Cathedral Historic Graffiti Research Project began in October 2018 as part of The Canterbury Journey – a Heritage Lottery Funded restoration and community engagement project – and continues to this day with a team of volunteers surveying and recording graffiti, and sharing the discoveries made with visitors.
Things to discover
Masons' marks, scenes of devotion, names, faces, hands and feet are all etched across the walls of the Cathedral and are now being surveyed, recorded and shared with visitors by our Historic Graffiti Research team.
Masons' marks
Some of the earliest marks in the Cathedral were made by the men who built it, to indicate their work. You can identify these marks by their repetition and quality.
Acts of devotion
From simple crosses, to complex biblical scenes, most medieval graffiti across the Cathedral were marks of faith.
Hands and feet
The marks left by school boys across the centuries - who traced round their hands and feet - can be found around the Great Cloister.
Names, initials and dates
Many post-medieval pieces of graffiti may commemorate an event, perhaps a visit to the Cathedral.
Fascinating Facts
42
The number of unique masons’ marks in the Eastern Crypt; suggesting the size of workforce that built it between 1179-81.
23ft
The length of the largest feasting scene in the Cathedral.
70+
There are over 70 footprints in the Great Cloister. Can you find them all?
Other highlights
Christ in Majesty
The largest graffiti in the Cathedral, located in the Eastern Crypt, is over 6 sqm. It depicts Christ surrounding by the four evangelists. This piece is behind protective glass, but please do ask a guide to illuminate it for you.
Image: Digital drawing interpretation by David White, Historic Graffiti Research Team
The mark of the Master of the Tomb
The mark of William Boolde in the Crypt is possibly that of Mayor Boolde of Canterbury (1457-8), or William Boolde, a monk at the Cathedral who was described as ‘master of the tomb’ in about 1490.
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