Part of the intricate carvings in the stonework over the South Door of St Nicholas Church, Barfreston. The tiny medieval church dates back to Norman times and is considered to be one of England's historical gems.
"In the medieval period, the village of Barfreston was a stopover place for pilgrims on their way to the shrine of St Thomas a Becket at Canterbury. That may account for the likeness of Becket carved on the south door, the first known representation of Becket in the country.
If you enjoy Norman architecture. or just medieval architecture in general, you are in for a treat! The tympanum and arches of the south door boast some of the finest Norman carvings in Britain. At the centre of the tympanum is a figure of Christ. At his feet are two mermaids, a gryphon, and a figure of a sphinx.
Above this figure are three semi-circular bands of carvings. The first is simply a band of leaves. The second contains 12 medallions, featuring strange beasts playing musical instruments. One theory is that the masons were inspired by popular bestiaries of the day.
From left to right we see three figures playing instruments (a hare with a flageolet, an ape with pan pipes, and a woman with a dulcimer), a bear playing the harp, carousing beasts, a Miming figure, a hare toasting a partridge, a pair of lovers, two men arguing, a horse rider, a falconer, hounds chasing a hare, a churchman, and, finally, a monkey riding a goat, carrying a dead hare.
The third band of carvings draws on signs of the zodiac and the 'labours of the months'. Here we find two rams butting heads, a peacock, a pair of manticores (beasts with human heads), dragons, a gryphon, and a hedgehog".
"a monkey, riding a goat, carrying a dead hare" what else would you carve over a church door? this does amuse me. Great stonemason work, which you show well in your pair of photographs.
@paul10 Sadly the photo with the door and arch in was not in focus - was really annoyed with myself too because these were just jpegs and the one I took of the whole church had a very ominous sky overhead. Hardly showed up on the jpegs!
May 26th, 2018
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"In the medieval period, the village of Barfreston was a stopover place for pilgrims on their way to the shrine of St Thomas a Becket at Canterbury. That may account for the likeness of Becket carved on the south door, the first known representation of Becket in the country.
If you enjoy Norman architecture. or just medieval architecture in general, you are in for a treat! The tympanum and arches of the south door boast some of the finest Norman carvings in Britain. At the centre of the tympanum is a figure of Christ. At his feet are two mermaids, a gryphon, and a figure of a sphinx.
Above this figure are three semi-circular bands of carvings. The first is simply a band of leaves. The second contains 12 medallions, featuring strange beasts playing musical instruments. One theory is that the masons were inspired by popular bestiaries of the day.
From left to right we see three figures playing instruments (a hare with a flageolet, an ape with pan pipes, and a woman with a dulcimer), a bear playing the harp, carousing beasts, a Miming figure, a hare toasting a partridge, a pair of lovers, two men arguing, a horse rider, a falconer, hounds chasing a hare, a churchman, and, finally, a monkey riding a goat, carrying a dead hare.
The third band of carvings draws on signs of the zodiac and the 'labours of the months'. Here we find two rams butting heads, a peacock, a pair of manticores (beasts with human heads), dragons, a gryphon, and a hedgehog".