Medieval History
Martin church near Horncastle in Lincolnshire, has a fabulous chancel arch. This narrow arch is a text book example of the Transitional style, the moment when Norman architecture gradually gave way to Early English Gothic. In this arch we have a blending of the two. The responds are entirely Norman in character, with two orders of shafts topped with fairly standard Norman capitals, a pair scalloped and a pair with volutes. A little bit of nailhead decoration is incorporated into these capitals too. Then the whole thing is topped with an Early English arch, a steep pointed arch. The whole thing must be late twelfth or early thirteenth century.
- Aumbry Door
Many of our churches still retain the evidence of aumbries, the secure lockers that served as the repository for valuables before the invention of the safe. They are a common feature let into the side walls beside both...
- Medieval Polychromy
I can't resist posting these images of the fifteenth century arch braced ceiling at Holy Trinity in Blythburgh in Suffolk. The whole surface of the ceiling is covered in delicate polychromy, with stencilled monograms and stylised...
- Sanctuary Fittings And Something Rare
As well as the original pavement the chancel of Laxton church in Nottingham is lucky enough to still retain its stone sanctuary furnishings, fourteenth century piscina with double drains, Easter sepulchre, sedilia and image corbels. ...
- It's Amazing What You Find Under The Floor.
According to John Throsby in his new addition of Thoroton's The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire, when the floor of the chancel at Mattersey church in Nottinghamshire was replaced in the 1790s they discovered two pieces of 'very ancient'...
- Capitals
There are a group of churches in north Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, that have a arcades of c.1340, with pillars topped with fascinating capitals. Each capital is decorated with four crouching demi figures, some with interlocking...
Medieval History
Transitional
Martin church near Horncastle in Lincolnshire, has a fabulous chancel arch. This narrow arch is a text book example of the Transitional style, the moment when Norman architecture gradually gave way to Early English Gothic. In this arch we have a blending of the two. The responds are entirely Norman in character, with two orders of shafts topped with fairly standard Norman capitals, a pair scalloped and a pair with volutes. A little bit of nailhead decoration is incorporated into these capitals too. Then the whole thing is topped with an Early English arch, a steep pointed arch. The whole thing must be late twelfth or early thirteenth century.
- Aumbry Door
Many of our churches still retain the evidence of aumbries, the secure lockers that served as the repository for valuables before the invention of the safe. They are a common feature let into the side walls beside both...
- Medieval Polychromy
I can't resist posting these images of the fifteenth century arch braced ceiling at Holy Trinity in Blythburgh in Suffolk. The whole surface of the ceiling is covered in delicate polychromy, with stencilled monograms and stylised...
- Sanctuary Fittings And Something Rare
As well as the original pavement the chancel of Laxton church in Nottingham is lucky enough to still retain its stone sanctuary furnishings, fourteenth century piscina with double drains, Easter sepulchre, sedilia and image corbels. ...
- It's Amazing What You Find Under The Floor.
According to John Throsby in his new addition of Thoroton's The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire, when the floor of the chancel at Mattersey church in Nottinghamshire was replaced in the 1790s they discovered two pieces of 'very ancient'...
- Capitals
There are a group of churches in north Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, that have a arcades of c.1340, with pillars topped with fascinating capitals. Each capital is decorated with four crouching demi figures, some with interlocking...