Visiting historical monuments while on vacation isn’t an unusual thing. Plenty of parents drag their kids along while trying to convey the historical significance of the Battle of the Hague or hike around the beautiful El Morro National Momument. You probably even brought a nice camera to record the experience for posterity. But what really kicks things down a notch is bringing along butcher’s paper and graphite to furiously scrub at a significant carving a like a homemade mimeograph machine.
Rubbing is arguably a British thing. Commemorative ceramic discs dot the country, called Blue Plaques , that honor notable persons and serve as historical markers by linking them to notable buildings. There are over 900 in London and subjects span the spectrum of Theorists to Karl Marx. Finding them can be quite a scavenger hunt which is a hobby in its own right.
Remember that scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where he and the hot Nazi historian (spoiler) found that tomb and had to hide inside while the gasoline-filled catacombs were set set on fire? The rubbing from Sir Richard’s shield eventually led to the Holy Grail somehow. Brass Rubbing is like that but way less exciting.
For our purposes, this side-quest gets specific. Brass Rubbing refers to engraved metal memorials usually crafted beginning in the 13th century that can be found in churches. These are usually smaller and cheaper than a stone statue but can be pretty fragile so check with your local vicar before you get to rubbing. We recommend the crypt of St. Martin-In-The-Field.
This pastime is very sensory. There is the engraving’s relief to see, of course, as well as the feel of the material’s cool and embossed texture. Also, the echoed scrubbing of a wax stick in the silence of an old English church is an experience nobody should miss out on.
You can actually try it out now with a pad of paper and a pencil. Write a note on the top sheet, tear it off, and eat it. Take the pencil and gently color the next page with the flat side of the graphite. Put the paper in your scrapbook. Congratulations, you solved the case!
This Is Boring 