Thursday it rained on and off most of the day but stopped for a brief few hours in the afternoon so I dragged D off to visit St Peter and St Paul, Eye which is a few miles from Berrington Hall.
The church has been on my "To Visit" list for ages due to its C16th Cornewall effigies and carved dragons.
The Name "Eye" is old English for "island" and the village is set between two streams. The church of St Peter and St Paul is located in the parish of Eye, Moreton and Ashton. It is 4 miles North of Leominster and the area is sparsely populated with just 178 residents. There are three Grade 1 Listed buildings, Berrington Hall, Eye Manor and the church.
St Peter and St Paul is built of Old Red Sandstone and is a large Norman church with Nave, Chancel, Aisles and side Chapel. The Church is mainly C13th and building commenced c1190 with the South Aisle being the oldest part of the church with additional building in c1220 and in the 13th and 14th centuries. The Tower was rebuilt by the Victorians in 1874 and the church was restored in 1872/3 by William Chick.
The lychgate dates from 1921
The C14th wooden North Porch.
Eye Manor next to the church.
Norman North Doorway
For once I was able to have a good look round a church - D was quite happy reading his book on Welsh History in the car although he did come in later to see the dragons and effigies. So be warned there are a lot of photos!!!
The stone font is late C13th or early C14th on a C19th stem.
Carved grotesque dragons set in the top panels of the oak benches. These were taken from the original C16th box pews when the church was restored in the C19th.
Memorials to the men of the parish who gave their lives in World Wars One and Two - the lychgate is also in their memory.
The nave looking towards the chancel
The organ was built by Brindley and Foster of Leeds to commemorate Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1887 and cost £220.
On the wall of the north aisle are two bronze figures - the angel at the top is in memory of Louisa Drinkwater Carver who died in 1949 and the kneeling girl in a wreath is a memorial to her sister Marjory Aspinal Carver who died in 1934. The Misses Carver lived at Eye Manor.
Also in the North Aisle an early C14th stone carving of an unknown man under the corbel.
Carved capitals by the entrance to the West Tower.
Window in memory of The Rev Wilfrid Buckley (1854 to 1935) who was vicar of Eye for 35 years. He was the final vicar to live at Eye Manor when it served as the vicarage. He also farmed two farms and his wife turned Eye Manor into an academy for young gentlewomen before they moved to the parsonage in Moreton Eye.
We bought some homemade pickled cucumber, piccallilli and damson jam from this stall.
Brass Memorials to the Buckle family.
The Chancel
The camera really struggled with low light in the church even though I'd turned loads of lights on. I was using ISO 6400 and f2.8 at times - I think I may have to resort in future to using the flash. My photo of the mid C16th pulpit was too dark and unusable so just a photo of one of the carvings.
Encaustic tiles by William Godwin of Lugwardine near Hereford - the company was founded in 1853.
Looking towards the North chapel from the chancel area.
Late C16th carving of St Peter and St Paul.
Stone effigy of a figure (angel?) holding a shield and beneath this a monument depicting the coat of arms of Blount and Cornewall. Also late C16th.
East window - stained glass by Hardman 1873 set in a C14th recess.
Stained glass portraying St Cecilia and commemorating the life of Ann Pipon, sister of Robert, 6th Lord Rodney, who died in 1879.
North Chapel
Stained glass in the North chapel in memory of Sarah Lady Rodney installed in 1884 by her children.
Marble wall tablet in memory of Stephen, Harold and Oswald, three sons of Lord and Lady Cawley who died in World War One. Only their eldest son survived to succeed as the 2nd Lord Cawley in 1937.
Memorial to John Cawley killed in action in World War Two
The oldest memorial in the church is this C16th effigy which it is believed portrays either Sir Rowland d1520 or Sir Thomas Cornewall (1444-1500). The knight is wearing chain mail showing much detail and at his feet is the Cornewall lion.
Alabaster tomb with effigies depicting Sir Richard Cornewall who died in 1533 and his wife Jane.
Millennium Window depicting the Virgin and Child is handpainted mouth blown glass by Jim Budd.
A marble memorial to Thomas Harley who built Berrington Hall which mentions the year he spent as Lord Mayor of London and as MP for the City and MP Herefordshire for 25 years.
Before we left I had a quick wander round the churchyard and exterior of the church.
Wild Arum berries
For once I think I spotted most of the features in the church only missing the C19th brass triple hanging lamp!
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 I would be grateful for an email first - thanks.)
Reference - Leaflet in the Church which was full of information.
