Back to photostream

Project: Gloucestershire - Tewkesbury, with Worcestershire - Upton-upon-Severn.

No. 5 - 6: Exploring - the Abbey Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire .

 

 

The Misericords, in the Choir:

The little ledge under the seat is called a misericord. The monks could sit on this ledge in the long services if they got tired, and it looked as if they were still standing. Can you see some carved monsters and birds on the misericords? (This is a Latin word meaning 'compassionate').

Tewkesbury Abbey

 

Humour was a common feature of misericord carvings. - as seen here! - a rather rude misericord, decorated with a carving of a man pointing to his posterior, thus implying that the smell of flatulence is reminiscent of the stench of sulphur - the odour of Hell.

Guidebook

 

 

Larger size:-

farm3.static.flickr.com/2581/3976899295_ca8d0b3c60_b.jpg

 

Taken on:-

August 29, 2007 at 11:42 BST

111 views
0 faves
0 comments
Uploaded on October 4, 2009
Taken on August 29, 2007