Wednesday 24th October was a lovely day - sunny and mild. B wanted to go to B and Q in Leominster to buy a new bird box. Afterwards we walked along the River Kenwater - the river level was high and there was no sign of the Kingfisher or Dipper that we have seen before.
We watched a pair of Goldcrest for ages. Sorry rubbish photos although they are tame and confiding they never stop still! Plus it is hard to focus with leaves and twigs in the way!
After crossing the river we walked up the hill to Leominster Priory.
We followed a public footpath past
the Priory House. This is one of the few surviving buildings built by the monks of Leominster Priory. It was probably built in the mid 1100's although there have been alterations over the years. Some researchers think it was used as an infirmary by the monks. Alternatively it could have provided lodgings for the prior. When the monastery was dissolved in 1539 it was kept as a private residence. From 1836 until the early C20th it was used as a workhouse for the poor. Then it became a hospital followed by offices for the County Council. Today it is a youth hostel.
We walked through an area known as the Tranquil Place.
This archway and sculpture is by Walenty Pytel who lives locally.
Leominster War Memorial, listed as Grade II, comprises a statue of winged Victory by William Storr-Barber, 1922.
We had tea and cake (coffee and walnut) at the delightful Pavilion Cafe. D had a rather delicious looking mushroom and cheese pancake.
We walked back to the car visiting the churchyard and exterior of Leominster Priory as we did so.
A window in the Decorated style in the south aisle which was added to the Priory in the early C14th.
Ballflower decorations
If you would like to see the interior of the priory please follow the link here Interior of Leominster Priory
We walked round to the West front of the Priory and to the
West door which never ceases to amaze me.
The C12th century West door has carvings by the Herefordshire School of Romanesque Sculptors The capitals around the doorway all have cable necking and the abaci are richly carved with saltire crosses, rows of beads and eight pointed stars in square frames.
This capital on the left hand side has two birds (doves?) entwined in foliage.
On this capital we can see two men dressed in ribbed suits wearing round hats with concentric bands. The men are cutting through the foliage with their sickles.
The third capital nearest the door has two serpents with a large horn on their heads and gaping mouths. The serpents appear to be entwined in branches or foliage.
The capitals on the right hand side show foliage (wheat?), two ferocious looking lions with large paws and heads and foliage.
We continued our walk back down the Priory Lane, along the river and back to the car.
All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one or mine or my son's I would appreciate an email first - thanks).
Reference:
"Buildings of England Herefordshire" - Pevsner by Alan Brooks and Nikolaus Pevsner, The University Press, 2017
"Herefordshire School of Romanesque Sculpture" by Malcolm Thurlby
Lovely to see the Goldcrests on your walk. The West door of the Priory is wonderful, I like all your photos of the carvings. We really must venture that way for a visit as Leominster looks a lovely place to spend more time in, we've only passed through before on our way to Hereford. The coffee and walnut cake looks lovely. I hope you managed to find a new bird box:)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Rosie. I hope you can get to Leominster - when we used to travel through en route to other places there didn't seem to be much there. But the more we explore the more we find! the Priory is superb. If you get chance let me know if you plan to visit and I can email you a list of some of the places we have found. Still so much for us to do there - like visiting the museum!
ReplyDeleteYes thanks re the bird box and it has been put up ready for the Spring. We have two on trees at the back of the caravan. The new one replaced an old one that had seen better days!!
That was a lovely walk, and well done on getting the shots of the Goldcrest! The Priory House has such a varied history of usage over the years. I wonder how many of the kids going to the Youth Club appreciate that?!!
ReplyDeleteYour cake looks delicious and as for the Priory building, wow the door is quite special. Loads of new words added to my architectural vocab list, which I will forget in a minute, lol! You've had me googling abaci and saltire. :-) I find it quite hard to see what is what in the carvings so it's good to have an explanation and they are remarkable works of art.
Thanks so much Mandy. I've got better photos of the Priory House somewhere - I couldn't face walking over wet and muddy grass to get a better picture this time! There is a lot of history in Leominster especially round the Priory area :)
DeleteI just love that Romanesque door so really pleased you liked it. I have a crib sheet somewhere of those architectural terms to help me remember :) When you think the carvings date back to the early/mid C12th they are just incredible :)
Me again, I've just been proof reading my next post and the Romanesque church in it has a very similar doorway to Leominster Priory!
ReplyDeleteHi again Mandy and oh goody!!!!! I just love Romanesque doors so can't wait to see :)
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