B actually suggested going into the Priory as I was going to leave it for another time. He did a whistle stop tour - I was still in the south nave when he left! so I only allowed myself 10/15 minutes whereas I could have spent several hours there!
Sorry photos not of the best mainly due to haste!
George Gilbert Scott restored and re-ordered the church between 1862 and 1879 and most of the furnishings date from this time.
South or Parish Nave
Stained glass in the South Aisle - most of the priory stained glass was made by the Charles Kempe workshop.
The Lady Chapel
13th century piscina and early 14th century sedilia with ballflower decoration.
Sorry about the chairs. There were churches and tables throughout the church - I am not sure if they are always there or whether it is because of social distancing?
The East Window shows The Crucifixion with Saints Peter, Mary, John and Benedict - there is work from 1922 showing the instruments of the Passion and Angels.
The Organ case dates back to 1737 and its front faces the Sanctuary (now called St Paul's Chapel).
I wish had bought the priory guide book as it may have given me more information - for example, on the piece of work below. But you guessed it I had no money with me and B had long disappeared.
Norman North Nave
The Story of Mr Gwilliam's Plough
The plough was used by John (Jack) Gwilliam of Choistrey. The "ransome" plough was used by John in 1907 and then in ploughing competitions up until 1958. He won 199 First Prizes and 104 other prizes.
His son John was twice made British Ploughing Champion and he also won the World Ploughing Competion.
The plough was donated to the church in 1958 for use on Ploughing Sunday and at Harvest Festival.
The above information was taken from a note left in the Priory Visitor Book 17th April 2007 from his grandson Philip Gwilliam of Kington.
I wasn't sure whether to include the next photo as I feel some may find it objectionable but I have included the prayer which is right by the stool which explains why it is on display. It was probably made around 1718 and was last used in 1809 (the latest known case in England).
The photo is not very good as it had chairs and tables in front of it. I had just managed to find the best position when I discovered the church was no longer empty but 3 people were making a beeline for me and the ducking stool and I beat a very hasty retreat as I could see there would be no chance of social distancing and they weren't wearing masks!
One of the items I did miss was the Wheel of Life Wall painting from c1275 but it is in the choir vestry at the west end of north aisle so may not be accessible? Anyway among the photos I found this illustration of it. There is a circle of roundels showing the Six Ages of Man and other pictures along with Kind David and his harp.
I think this is a Consecration Cross.
Font (1842) - the wine glass form copies a 14th century font at St Mary Magdalen, Oxford.
The West Window and we won't mention all the Romanesque carvings I missed completely in this area :(
I only took one photo of the many memorials due to lack of time.
The following is a list of some of the features I missed. It is meant really as an aide memoire for me in the hope I can return and spend a lot longer there!
- Wheel of Life Wall Painting if it is accessible?
- Small font near the nave altar which is probably 13th century - square bowl and stem and 4 shafts.
- Exterior - above the buttress north west corner there is a Norman grotesque. Wide eyed, moustached face with a gaping mouth possible spewing serpents.
- West doorway interior inner capital or above West window and shafts?? - Green Man.
- Again either by West Doorway interior or West Window area - carved birds in linked beaded medallions, two pairs of affronted birds being attacked by a hawk, Small Samson and Lion carving and volutes on abacus above last capital on West doorway or West Window?
- Lectern and better photo pulpit.
- West recess Parish Nave? display of tiles mostly 14th century - one has large lion passant others have foliage and heraldry.
- West Window - single order abacus and carved capitals - foliage, scallops, human head and snakes.
- Did I miss any stained glass? Make note of where the windows were and more zoomed in shots.
- Memorials and Tablets
- Take money for guide book etc!!
- Roof Norman Nave
12 comments:
ooh nice... I haven't been there in ages
What a thorough report on the interior. I can see we will have to go ourselves.
Super photos - the stained glass is amazing. If anyone is offended by seeing the ducking stool, they need to do a shake-up of how they view the past - and it should not be from the perspective of the present. History doesn't work like that!
Amazing how many Ploughing competitions Jack Gwilliam won - he was obviously very skilled indeed.
Have you thought more about moving? Are they going ahead with that huge building programme next door still?
The Quacks of Life - Thanks so much Pete. Hope you can get back to Herefordshire soon.
Bovey Belle - Thanks so much. Well worth a visit.
I do tend to agree with you about the ducking stool to be honest - I just thought I should make the remark due to the prayer nearby.
He did win a lot!!! I love seeing quirky things like this in priories/churches :)
Moving - sore point!!! but thanks for remembering and asking No idea what is going on next door - they are still there having not yet moved temporarily out. To be honest almost given up looking locally - so many over priced properties in rural areas and near Solihull. Plus you seem to pay £100k plus extra for the good schools and "privilege" of living there!! For the same price I could get a really lovely detached rural property with a decent sized garden etc in so many other counties. But "problem" of kids and jobs remains. Just feel stuck in a situation from which there is no escape if I am brutally honest.
Are your grown-up children still at home then? Perhaps it's time to heave them out or if you do downsize somewhere much cheaper, give them some money towards a flat they could share? It annoys me when certain places are "hotspots" and you pay a premium for living there. If so, perhaps that might apply to YOUR house too and you might be sitting on a goldmine, the way house prices have shot up. Anyway, just to let you know you are in my thoughts and I just hope you get to work out the logistics of a move and end up in that village where you felt SO at home from the first minute there.
P.S. If you ever want to natter, my email addy is boveybelle@yahoo.co.uk
Bovey Belle - Thanks so much for your kind words and thoughts. Yes both still here. Daughter does want to buy a small flat and has saved a big enough deposit but hasn't yet found anywhere she likes within her budget. Son could more or less buy a small flat but really does not want to move out and live on his own! And there is no way I could just "force" them out. It is just a very difficult situation made a lot worse by the panic in us caused by what is likely to happen next door.. I can guess what our house is worth from other sales round here but sadly it has gone downhill from being a very nice area :( So no gold mine but with savings and house we have enough but am just not prepared to plough it all into a small semi or detached with a pocket sized back garden and tiny third bedroom just because a desirable local area with brilliant schools which of course we don't need anymore! I look at places in Herefordshire, Somerset and even parts of Dorset or Salop or Worcs or Norfolk and you can get so much more for your money !!!!
Thanks again for your thoughtfulness and for leaving email address - it is very kind of you and much appreciated.
The inside looks really interesting. I hope you get to visit again soon to see the things you missed.
CherryPie - Thank you. I will return when I can :)
You saw such a lot of features and hopefully you will go back a few times to discover more and tick those off your list, it seems like a place you can return to many times and find something new each time. The windows are wonderful and you photos are super:)
Rosie - Thanks so much. You are right it is one of those places you could visit many times and still keep finding new features :)
Gilbert Scott did a lot at the local cathedral too. I see a lot of architectural similarities. You would love it here! Hope you can get back there soon to complete your list of exploration.
Rustic Pumpkin - thanks so much. G Scott does seem to have been involved in a lot of restorations. One day I hope we can come to Pembrokeshire. Was a possibility last year until pandemic arrived as was Cornwall.
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