Recent Visit to Herefordshire - Part 2: St Mary the Virgin, Pembridge

After walking round Pembridge I left B sitting on a bench and spent 10 to 15 minutes in the church.  I really could have done with an hour or more! So it was a quick whizz round taking as many photos as I could and trying to remember what I missed on my visit several years ago.

In my haste I often forgot to hold the camera straight and cut parts off mythical beasts as you will see!

All that remains of the original Norman church built on the same site are two 12th century arches in the North and South Walls of the Chancel. Most of the present building dates back to around 1330 with construction taking 4 - 5 years.  The Chancel, Transepts, Nave and Aisles are almost all in the "Decorated" style.

The Bell Tower is one of 7 Herefordshire detached bell towers.  Structurally it is related to the stave churches of Norway. It is comprised of a stone ground storey with a high truncated pyramid roof.  It was restored in  1898, 1957 and 1983/4.  The tower was built in the 13th century and dendro dating gives the dates 1207-1214.  The stone walls date from the 15th and 16th centuries. As far as I could see it wasn't open which was a shame as it is very impressive inside!

The North Porch is late 14th century with a stone ribbed and vaulted ceiling. 

13th century stone font with a square bowl and 17th century cover.

The 19th century West Window shows 14 gospel scenes.

Sorry same window photo uploaded twice - I still can't work out how to delete photos!

The East Window made by Heaton Butler and Bayne in 1870.

One of the monuments comprises two pairs of limestone effigies c1350-75 on a double tomb chest.  The pair to the East include a man wearing sergeant at law robes and his wife has a veil and wimple. The West pair  consists of a man wearing a turban like hat and carrying a short dagger. A local historian Blount writing in 1675 believed these were the Gours - formerly Lords of Marston - a hamlet near Pembridge.

The pulpit and lectern are Jacobean and have intricate carvings by a Herefordshire craftman. There are panels with mythical figures and designs copied from nature.  I was so annoyed with myself later that I hadn't taken more care with these photos but by now I was panicking over how long I had been and also getting a bit jittery about being in a building even though at that stage there was no-one else in there!

At the West end of the church there is an exhibition of the Pembridge Tapestries all made by local stitchers.  Twelve separate panels depict the history of Pembridge from Domesday to the present day and also include some local mythology. Unfortunately the glass covering the panels of embroidery was reflecting the glass windows so I have only included a few pictures.

The North Door is made of solid oak with hinges and large square headed nails and a sanctuary knocker (which I failed to get a close up photo of!!).

I do very much regret not spending more time studying and reading the very beautiful tapestries and as always there were items I missed such as Coat of Arms, Masons' Marks, wall paintings, a reading desk with a carved wyvern 13th century, rood loft staircase, a 1721 brass candelabra, carved Jacobean altar rails and scratch dials on the exterior. I should have explored the exterior more as there are holes of shot from Oliver Cromwell's soldiers on the West Door.  On the other side of the South churchyard hedge is a moat which once surrounded a castle. There is little doubt I will have to return.  

There are still parts of the village we haven't explored and you can also walk along the River Arrow.

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera.

Reference: Pevsner Buildings of England Herefordshire by Alan Brooks and Nicolaus Pevsner - Yale University Press 2012.

A Walk Around the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Pembridge, Herefordshire. Published by Pembridge Parochial Church Council. Written by Kath Aston with a contribution by Peter Klein

(Purchased on a previous visit to the church)