Hawkchurch Devon
The capitals (and the carved base with 2 dragons fighting ) on the north chancel arch flic.kr/p/2rrhwfi are much more ornate than on the south www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/16x7d83uSx
The north side of the chancel arch also has the very unusual feature of a carved scene at the foot of the shaft, in this case a couple of dragons. It is very deeply carved and extremely graphic. I have seen many Norman carvings (just browse these pages) and I really think this is in the first rank yet almost unknown
The chancel arch is decidedly Norman as far up as its carved capitals which, thankfully, were retained when the arch was remodelled during the Early English period. On the north side is a very fine and very Norman carving of intertwined dragons, the tail of one of which is being bitten by a human head. Or is the dragon emanating from his mouth? Above it is the commonplace (but still attractive) floral design. This all looks quite early, maybe early rather than later twelfth century.
Here we can see dragons or serpents apparently biting the hapless man’s head. He’s having a hard time of it all round! Right: The south side capital has pretty standard Norman decoration with none of the excitements of the north side
Left and Right: The chancel arch is decidedly Norman as far up as its carved capitals which, thankfully, were retained when the arch was remodelled during the Early English period. On the north side is a very fine and very Norman carving of intertwined dragons, the tail of one of which is being bitten by a human head. Or is the dragon emanating from his mouth? Above it is the commonplace (but still attractive) floral design. This all looks quite early, maybe early rather than later twelfth century.
- Church of St John the Baptist, Hawkchurch Devon
Michael Garlick CCL www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5356877 www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5356871 www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5356865
Hawkchurch Devon
The capitals (and the carved base with 2 dragons fighting ) on the north chancel arch flic.kr/p/2rrhwfi are much more ornate than on the south www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/16x7d83uSx
The north side of the chancel arch also has the very unusual feature of a carved scene at the foot of the shaft, in this case a couple of dragons. It is very deeply carved and extremely graphic. I have seen many Norman carvings (just browse these pages) and I really think this is in the first rank yet almost unknown
The chancel arch is decidedly Norman as far up as its carved capitals which, thankfully, were retained when the arch was remodelled during the Early English period. On the north side is a very fine and very Norman carving of intertwined dragons, the tail of one of which is being bitten by a human head. Or is the dragon emanating from his mouth? Above it is the commonplace (but still attractive) floral design. This all looks quite early, maybe early rather than later twelfth century.
Here we can see dragons or serpents apparently biting the hapless man’s head. He’s having a hard time of it all round! Right: The south side capital has pretty standard Norman decoration with none of the excitements of the north side
Left and Right: The chancel arch is decidedly Norman as far up as its carved capitals which, thankfully, were retained when the arch was remodelled during the Early English period. On the north side is a very fine and very Norman carving of intertwined dragons, the tail of one of which is being bitten by a human head. Or is the dragon emanating from his mouth? Above it is the commonplace (but still attractive) floral design. This all looks quite early, maybe early rather than later twelfth century.
- Church of St John the Baptist, Hawkchurch Devon
Michael Garlick CCL www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5356877 www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5356871 www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5356865