Tuesday 2nd May was dry and sunny. B wanted to garden so D said he would visit Edvin (sometimes spelt Edwyn) Ralph church with me - luckily there was a medieval site there to keep him happy.
Apologies in advance there are a LOT of photos - with hindsight I should have split it into two posts!
St Michael's was originally Norman but it was much altered in the C13th and C14th.
While I explored the church D went in search of the Medieval site.
The medieval site is mainly located where the trees are in the photo below. According to an information board there has been much debate about the site and varying interpretations - firstly, it was believed to have been a medieval ringwork (a circular moated site with an inner bank) and then it was decided it was a motte and bailey (a circular mound of earth with a ditch surrounding it and a large enclosure at one end of the motte). The site is apparently neither of these. The moated mound has no inner bank like a ringwork should have and the mound is shallow and too open for a motte which was built to be defended. Perhaps a motte was commenced here close to the already established settlement NE of the church (mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086). But it seems to have been abandoned or left unfinished. Stone remains on the moated site suggest there may once have been a building there.
Aerial photos have shown signs of ridge and furrow.
Some photos from D's exploration - there were some lovely old trees.
Meanwhile I explored the churchyard and church.
There were lots of wild flowers - Garlic Mustard, Primroses, Lesser Celandine, Daisies and Speedwell.
A man on a ride on lawn mower actually apologised for the state of the churchyard but it was the first opportunity to mow it! I said oh need to apologise I love churchyards like this where wild flowers are allowed to flourish. To be fair he did seem to have left areas of longer grass and wildflowers in areas he had already mown.
The West Tower is C13th. The truncated pyramid roof with a timber broach spirelet was added later.
The South Doorway has capitals with primitive rosettes or volutes and abaci with a crude billet ornament according to Pevsner. The roll moulded arch is C13th and the stoup was re-set in the east jamb.
Good to see instructions in the porch on how to make a bug hotel - I think they have either had or have scheduled an event to make these.
The church was restored and partially rebuilt by Nicholson in the 1860's. There was a further restoration by J Scott in 1885 who refitted the chancel and added oaks, stalls and lectern. There are times when I do not like Victorian Restorations :( This font from the Nicholson era is not to my mind very attractive!
North doorway rebuilt in the C14th from Norman material.
Looking into the West Tower where there is a
funeral bier. The previous one made of oak was very heavy so it was decided by a Mrs Jessie Maund of Wood House Farm in the 1930's that a new one was needed. It cost £250 and the money was raised by holding dances and whist drives. It was last used to carry coffins in 1989.
There are C17th and C18th ledgers in the floor of the tower.
This bell was cast in 1587 by John Baker of Hereford - it is not known how it got broken.
Donations to the Poor of Edvin Ralph
1625 Wall Tablet to James and Dorothy Pytt with mottled pink shafts and cornice strapwork.
Memorial to Reverend James Ingram died 1813 with 2 mourning wives? leaning on his urn set on books.
Memorial to Elizabeth Ingram wife of Reverend Ingram
Memorial to Edward Burwall (d1800) with a draped urn
The main reason I had wanted to visit the church was to see the effigies in the photos below. Sadly, taking photos was not easy due to low light, the pale colour of the effigies and the fact they were worn and the handle of the coffin bier got in the way too!!
Effigy of knight and his lady c 1290. In the foreground is an incised slab to Matilda (Maud) de Edefin died 1325 - wife of Sir Thomas de Edefin. She is wearing a high stiff wimple with a sleeveless surcoat.
Miniature effigy of a C14th lady.
C14th effigies - a knight and two ladies - perhaps successive wives. Carved on a single slab with a a common bolster which is a rare feature. The knight is holding a sword.
West Tower window
Altar and stone reredos made of Caen stone by Jones and Willis 1885 in the chancel
East window - stained glass by Jones and Willis 1885
The Childe-Freeman memorial window in memory of the Reverend Edward Leonard Freeman rector for 51 years who died on 29th July 1933. The window depicts St Michael and St Mary.
On the North Wall of the chancel are 2 ogee headed C14th tomb recesses each with a carved head. These recesses may well have housed the effigies now in the tower. They were moved there in 1865 and in 1963 Sir Nikolaus Pevsner remarked that the "excellent monuments" were "disgracefully housed in the tower".
Back in the churchyard
Self Heal
Bluebells and Cowslips
Another reason why I wanted to visit the church is because there is an old tale from the C14th set in this area. Two young men from neighbouring estates - Baron Ralph and Lord Y'Edvin were friends. Lord Y'Edvin seeked adventures by going on a crusade to the Holy Land.
When he returned he fell in love with a maiden who lived in a nearby castle. But Baron Ralph had also been wooing this lady so they became rivals for her affections. It is not known who the young lady favoured.
One day Baron Ralph and Lord Y'Edvin decided to fight a duel to the death in a nearby meadow. They met at the agreed time and chose a site close to a bridge. There were no witnesses or supporters as the duel was a secret. They attacked each other ferociously. The young maiden could see the duel from the castle and ran to try and stop the fight. They took no notice of her they were so angry and carried on fighting until she was struck down dead. For a while they were horrified by what they had done and then resumed their fighting. Next morning all three of them were dead.
They were buried so legend tells in Edvin's church at night. Three statues were raised in their memory. It isn't possible today to find their graves as the inscriptions on old gravestones are so worn and the lettering cannot be read. None of the effigies in the tower really fit. But their names have been commemorated in the name of the settlement of Edvin Ralph.
After leaving the church we spotted a stoat running across the lane right in front of us.
We stopped off at the car park at Ralph Court gardens as there were llamas and donkeys in a field.
We did have a look around the entrance courtyard to the gardens as there were plants for sale and we were looking for herbs.
One day I will revisit these gardens because they are delightful. If you would like to see our visit of a few years ago please see here Ralph Court Gardens
We also stopped off briefly at the farmshop in Bromyard. The asparagus we had the next night served with a Red Onion, Feta and Olive Tart that D made.
On the journey and later as we drove through Hatfield we saw many swallows - it is always a joy when they return.
Photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera and those marked *D by my son with a Canon SX50HS bridge camera. (If anyone wishes to use one of my photos or my son's I would be grateful for an email first - Thanks).
Reference:
Pevsner "The Buildings in England Herefordshire" by Nikolaus Pevsner and Alan Brooks Yale University Press 2012
"Churches of Herefordshire and Their Treasures" by John Leonard Logaston Press
"Tales of Old Herefordshire" by Kathleen Lawrence-Smith
