I had been dodging the rain for most of the day and by the time I got to Kilpeck there was a light drizzle coming down so I have not covered the outside like I normally would, it did not help seeing all the corbels looking down. Inside I was in awe at all the carvings in the church concentrating mostly on the those so the views might not be like I normally would take. It is one church I hope to return to on a better day
The short history :- St Mary and St David's Church was built around 1140. It consists of a nave, chancel and semicircular apse. It is remarkable for its wealth of Norman stone carvings (and their fine state of preservation), both inside and out,[7] all original both in form and position and incorporating many corbels with representations of human faces, hares, fish, fowl, stags etc. Eighty-five of 91 corbels survive, an extraordinarily high percentage to read more on the church visit the link St Mary& St David Kilpeck
The south of the church from the road below
North side
West end with double bells
From along the path to the church
East end, the blemish is a raindrop on my lens
The freeze and corbels around the apse
On the west end there are three of these carvings
Corbles
There are so many carved faces looking down
Collage showing a few of the 81 corbels to see around the church
Couple of tomb chests beside the path
Some of the headstones south of the church
Commonwealth War Grave of Captain P.G. Meadmore
He is buried in the churchyard extension up here
Looking south down the path by the tombs
South of the church looking east
Headstones over by the trees on the north side
North side looking east
The extension on the west side
Over to the east side
I have not seen the like of it before
Collage of the arch and timpanium
The doorposts just as amazing to see
Carving on the capital
Wyverns the other side
Inside looking to the first arch to the chancel
Looking up at the arch
Not sure what this is at the base of the arch
Pillar carvings on the arch
Pillar capital
The apse arch
The altar and the tree east windows
Collage of the tree east windows
The apse
Altar cross and candle holders
Cross with window behind
Looking back through the chancel
From the apse showing the chancel
Looking towards the gallery
You know I would go up and here we look down to the chancel into the apse
Looking down to the nave
Seats in the gallery, note the two blocked windows
I think this is part of an old tomb slab
Across the church from under the gallery
The font
Closer view of the font
Time to go, I did not bother showing the memorial as it was hard to read and the same with the tomb in the chancel floor. I would like to visit this one again on a nice day.
Till next time have a peaceful week
Kilpeck is the best church I have ever visited so thank you for bringing back so many memories of when we went. The item at the base of the arch is a very old water stoup (it pre-dates the church). Before the Reformation it would have been placed at the entrance to the church filled with holy water for people to use before entering the church. The carving of two hands at the front could be a fertility carving. There are loads more details in the books I have in Herefordshire which I can't access at the moment! Sorry.
ReplyDeleteMost interesting to see the corbles. We have similiar here on historical buildings too.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for sharing at MosaicMonday
I wouldn't have known what a corbel was until you showed them.
ReplyDeleteTruly amazing. Wish I could see it in person but your photos make me feel as if I have.
ReplyDeleteLike RR, perhaps the best church I've ever visited too - certainly most complete from the period in which it was built, and W.O.W. to the Romanesque sculptures. The door surround is just sublime. Do go again in fine weather as there is so much to take in you will be rewarded.
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