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Gargoyles and grotesques

A walk in which you will see most with your nose in the air.

 

Oxford has many gargoyles and grotesques. Gargoyles were originally created to throw water away from buildings (and still do). The word comes from the old French ‘gargouille’ – meaning throat. Grotesques are carved heads, usually having no function, but often they are images of notable people. Grotesques can be mistaken for gargoyles, especially since they are at times placed where they might be thought to be performing a gargoyle’s function

 

www.oxstreets.org.uk/index.php/gargoyles-grimaces

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Uploaded on June 10, 2013
Taken on June 9, 2013