What does the Home & History logo mean?

This well-known shape is one of those thought to be an apotropaic or ritual protection mark. It could have been inscribed during the cottage’s construction, maybe originally exposed and then covered over, but the beam also has signs which indicate that it may have been reused from elsewhere so it is possible that the marks relate to a different place entirely - though they feel meant for this place.

There are various theories as to why these markings were made, one of which is they were thought to ward off evil from coming in through the drafty & dark parts of a house - commonly windows, stairways & hearths. They feel perfectly placed.

Last year I saw a very obvious burn mark next to the left-hand daisy wheel, nearly overlapping it. Another form of recognised marking, made by holding a lit taper close to the wood & letting it leave teardrop shaped scorch marks as the flame licks upwards - you can feel the indent where the wood has been scorched away by the base of the flame. How had I never noticed it before?

If these marks were meant for this place, then my stars have aligned in a strange way. Whatever they did once mean, their protective presence to me is knowing that I am part of a much longer & more intricately layered story than I’ll probably ever know.

An archivist’s instinct is to delve into documents, but the first part of a house’s story is written in its bones. By uncovering the brick, stone, wood & glass which it was built from we learn a little more about it each day, knowledge which will eventually help us to reinstate its identity.

Nearly a decade ago I hung two wooden stars either side of our staircase, before we stripped the plaster & exposed the beam.

Shortly after we had plastered the wall, in 2018 I was standing on the stairs as the Sun shone through the skylight & I caught sight of a very faint daisy wheel to the right of the white star. When I looked more closely, there was a second on the left, barely visible. I couldn’t believe it!