In many old brick buildings around London, you’ll find signs saying ‘Ancient Lights‘ marked beneath individual windows. The best example are the back windows of the houses on Albemarle Way, which are visible from Priory Church of the Order of Saint John just off the Clerkenwell Road. You can also find these odd signs near Chinatown and Covent Garden, particularly in back alleyways, and one in Newman Passage and another one in a pub just near Goodge Street tube station. Here is a map of ‘Ancient Lights’ signs around London.

The phenomenon is not unique to London. ‘Ancient Lights‘ signs can be found in Dorset, in Kent and in many places across England. What are they?

'Ancient Lights' signs below windows in Clerkenwell, London. Photo credit: Mike Newman/Wikimedia