A trip to Thirsk, some 23 miles north-west of York, gave a number of interesting photo opportunities. I was fortunate to be able to look round the church, which is normally kept closed and locked at this time of year. A member of the church was doing some repair work in there. He was very knowledgeable about the history and interior of the church, and gave me an interesting tour of the building.
One of the features of the church was the carvings of small mice on some of the furniture. These are the trademark of Mousey Thompson, a furniture maker from nearby Kilburn village.
Robert (Mouseman) Thompson (7 May 1876 – 8 December 1955) of Kilburn, North Yorkshire, set up a business manufacturing oak furniture, which featured a carved mouse on almost every piece. It is claimed that the mouse motif came about accidentally in 1919 following a conversation about "being as poor as a church mouse", which took place between Thompson and one of his colleagues during the carving of a cornice for a screen. This chance remark led to him carving a mouse and this remained part of his work from this point onwards. The business still exists, and is now run by the descendants of Mousey Thompson, and the carving of small mice on their products continues.
This shot shows a mouse at the base of one of the large candle holders placed close to the altar. Other mice carvings could be found on a memorial plaque, in the pulpit and on a chapel name plaque.
Thank you Therese. Several other carpenters followed this example and began to use their own animal carvings. In this church there is some work showing a beaver carved on his product by Colin "Beaverman" Almack.
Thank you Tony - his work is quite popular in this part of England, and several other people have followed his example to carve different animals on their work.
Thank you Bruni - these carvings have become quite well known, and others have copied the idea with their own animal carving. There was a badger carving from Colin "Beaverman" Almack on another piece of the church furniture in this church.
Thank you Angela, they are a quite well known trade mark in this area. His descendants still produce church furniture and still use the mouse as their trade mark.
Ian
January 18th, 2014
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Thank you Therese. Several other carpenters followed this example and began to use their own animal carvings. In this church there is some work showing a beaver carved on his product by Colin "Beaverman" Almack.
Ian
Thank you Hazel - it was interesting experimenting with selective colour.
Ian
Thank you Ferry, it was a fascinating visit to a really interesting church.
Ian
Thank you Molly - there are quite a few examples of his work around Yorkshire, but I'm not sure if it's seen in other parts of the country.
Ian
Thank you Doug. It was interesting to play with selective colour, I've never really used it much before.
Ian
Thank you Brian - it was a fascinating church to explore.
Ian
Thank you Tony - his work is quite popular in this part of England, and several other people have followed his example to carve different animals on their work.
Ian
Thank you Amber, glad you like it. The church was a fascinating building with lots to see.
Ian
Thank you Toby - quite a few churches in this area have Mousey Thompson's mouse on their furniture.
Ian
Thank you Lee - they are a lovely idea, and it's interesting trying to find them, because they are sometimes quite well hidden.
Ian
Thank you Bruni - these carvings have become quite well known, and others have copied the idea with their own animal carving. There was a badger carving from Colin "Beaverman" Almack on another piece of the church furniture in this church.
Ian
Thank you Angela, they are a quite well known trade mark in this area. His descendants still produce church furniture and still use the mouse as their trade mark.
Ian