Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Carved graffiti

With over 635,000 inhabitants, Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, ahead of Edinburgh, and the third largest city in the United Kingdom after London and Birmingham. Around 80 AD, the Romans colonised the city, which was probably called Cathures at the time. The Romans later built the Antonine Wall around 140 AD to separate Roman Britain from Celtic and Pictish Caledonia. According to legend, Glasgow itself was founded by the Christian missionary St Mungo in the 6th century. He is said to have built a church on the site of today's cathedral. Construction of St Mungo's Cathedral began in the 12th century. In 1451, the University of Glasgow was founded by papal decree. By the beginning of the 16th century, Glasgow had become an important religious and academic centre. In the 6th century Saint Mungo is said to have brought the body St Fergus, for burial. Saint Ninian is reputed to have dedicated the burial ground. Mungo built a monastic cell in the burial ground, and was buried in his church there in 614. His shrine in the Lower Church of Glasgow Cathedral was an important place of pilgrimage in the medieval period. The first stone cathedral was built, initiated by the decision of David I to establish a bishopric at Glasgow, the new cathedral was consecrated in 1136. The cathedral rose slowly over a period of some 150 years. Destroyed or severely damaged by fire, the first cathedral was succeeded by the present Gothic cathedral, which was consecrated in 1197. It was constructed between the 13th and 15th centuries. The church was the seat of the bishops and later the archbishops of Glasgow. Since 1690, the cathedral has no longer been the seat of a bishop. Since then, the designation as a cathedral has been a historical title of honour and indicates the original function as a Roman Catholic diocesan church of the Archbishopric of Glasgow. Carved graffiti at the nave

An earlier church was recorded in Newbald in the Domesday Survey but the present was built circa 1140. St Nicholas is a fine Norman church. It has a large cruciform plan with a tall central tower and is almost unique in having four Norman Doorways, the largest and most elaborate being at the west end of the nave, forming the main door. The chancel is 14th and 15th century. Carved graffiti near the doorway

Luxeuil les Bains was known to the Romans as Luxovium. They were attracted by the more than a dozen warm springs. In 590, the iro-scottish missionary St. Columban founded the Abbey of Luxeuil. In the 8th century, it was destroyed by the Saracens. It was rebuilt, but afterward, the monastery and town were devastated by the Normans, Magyars, and Muslims. The abbey schools were celebrated in the Middle Ages but the abbey´s influence power was curtailed by Charles V and the abbey was suppressed at the time of the French Revolution. Construction of the abbey church began in 1215 on the foundations of a 10th-century previous building that had been burned down in 1201 by Richard de Montbéliard. It was consecrated in 1340. After the abbey was dissolved during the French Revolution, the church became a parish church in 1830. In the 1860s it was restored under the direction of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Carved graffiti

Saint Florentin was a small Gallo-Roman settlement. As it was located on the border of several provinces in early medieval times, it was taken by Visigoths, Francs, Burgondes, Francs and -of course by Normans in 886). It was English in 1356 during the Hundred Years War but was then retaken and completely destroyed by the Burgundians in 1359. Huguenots rampaged during the Wars of Religion in 1562. Saint-Florentin is enclosed by the houses. The first church here, probably part of a fortified castle is from the 13th century. The erection of today´s church started on the hill, where once stood the castle, at the beginning of the 16th century. The construction was interrupted by the Wars of Religion and did not resume until the beginning of the 17th century. Well, the nave was never built, so today there is the choir and the transept. Due to the long time the construction took, the style is late Gothic plus some Renaissance. These names were carved in outside the portal by members of the 62nd Engenieer Battalion during the Great War. www.vetshome.com/62nd/Combat Engr.htm

Saint Florentin was a small Gallo-Roman settlement. As it was located on the border of several provinces in early medieval times, it was taken by Visigoths, Francs, Burgondes, Francs and -of course by Normans in 886). It was English in 1356 during the Hundred Years War but was then retaken and completely destroyed by the Burgundians in 1359. Huguenots rampaged during the Wars of Religion in 1562. Saint-Florentin is enclosed by the houses. The first church here, probably part of a fortified castle is from the 13th century. The erection of today´s church started on the hill, where once stood the castle, at the beginning of the 16th century. The construction was interrupted by the Wars of Religion and did not resume until the beginning of the 17th century. Well, the nave was never built, so today there is the choir and the transept. Due to the long time the construction took, the style is late Gothic plus some Renaissance. C. Linant carved in his name in 1755.

Marburg developed at the crossroads of two important medieval routes. The settlement was protected by a small castle built during the ninth or tenth century. Since 1140 Marburg has been a town, owned by the Landgraves of Thuringia, residing on the Wartburg above Eisenach. In 1228, the widowed Elizabeth of Hungary (aka Elizabeth of Thuringia), chose Marburg as her dowager seat. The countess dedicated her life to the sick and would become after her early death in 1231, aged 24, one of the most prominent female saints of the era. She was canonized already in 1235. Marburg was a provincial town in Hesse, known for the University, the oldest Protestant-founded university in the world, founded in 1527. In 1529, Philipp I of Hesse arranged the "Marburg Colloquy", to propitiate Martin Luther and Huldrych Zwingli. St. Elisabeth had founded a hospital here in 1228, where she cared for sick and needy people until her death. She was buried in the hospital chapel. Immediately began a pilgrim's stream and numerous miracles of healing were witnessed. In honour of St. Elizabeth the Elisabethkirche ("St. Elizabeth's Church") was built by the Order of the Teutonic Knights. The church is one of the earliest purely Gothic churches in German-speaking areas, and is held to be a model for the architecture of Cologne Cathedral. The church was consecrated in 1283. The work on the two towers continued until 1340. In 1539, Landgrave Philip had the bones of St. Elizabeth removed to set a mark against the cult of the relics, almost all of the formerly Catholic friars converted to Protestantism. Part of the originally rich figure jewelry got removed. There are many carved graffiti in and outside the church. Young H.H. left a selfie, wearing a student cap.

Laon, placed on a ridge and overlooking the flat Picardy plain, was a strategic, fortified site, already in Roman times. St. Remi founded a bishopric here in 487. Laon was a very important place in the kingdom of the Franks. After the fall of the Carolingians, Hugh Capet became the master of the town with the support of the bishop. The Abbey of St. Martin was founded in 1124 in Laon by the Bishop of Laon and Saint Norbert of Xanten. The Premonstratensian community started with twelve canons from the nearby Prémontré Abbey. The abbey was so successful that it soon numbered more than 500 members. Around 1300 this abbey was the second largest of the 150 Premonstratensian convents all over Europe. It existed upto the French Revolution, when it was dissolved. The former abbey church (seen here), erected within the 12th century, now serves the parish. The former monastic buildings have gaaen used as a hospital for many decades. Since 1980 they house the collection of the municipal library. In 1914 German forces captured Laon and held it until mid 1918. The hospital then was used by the German troops - and of course, the German soldiers, guarding it, had time to carve graffiti into the walls of the entrance gate. One of them carved this early "selfie". 100 years ago! On 28 June 1914 Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie were shot dead in Sarajevo. This assassination led directly to WWI.

Laon, placed on a ridge and overlooking the flat Picardy plain, was a strategic, fortified site, already in Roman times. St. Remi founded a bishopric here in 487. Laon was a very important place in the kingdom of the Franks. After the fall of the Carolingians, Hugh Capet became the master of the town with the support of the bishop. The Abbey of St. Martin was founded in 1124 in Laon by the Bishop of Laon and Saint Norbert of Xanten. The Premonstratensian community started with twelve canons from the nearby Prémontré Abbey. The abbey was so successful that it soon numbered more than 500 members. Around 1300 this abbey was the second largest of the 150 Premonstratensian convents all over Europe. It existed upto the French Revolution, when it was dissolved. The former abbey church (seen here), erected within the 12th century, now serves the parish. The former monastic buildings have gaaen used as a hospital for many decades. Since 1980 they house the collection of the municipal library. In 1914 German forces captured Laon and held it until mid 1918. The hospital then was used by the German troops - and of course, the German soldiers, guarding it, had time to carve graffiti into the walls of the entrance gate. One of these soldiers was Mr. Giesemann from Berlin, on duty here 1914/15. Somebody carved in "Lächel" - what means "Smile". 100 years ago! On 28 June 1914 Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie were shot dead in Sarajevo. This assassination led directly to WWI.