Memorial Tablet, Fownhope
St Mary's at Fownhope is renowned for it's Romanesque features; although most of the body of the church is the result of 13th & 14th century remodelling and enlargement the Norman central tower remains complete (and crowned by a shingled broach spire).
The most important Norman element however is the beautiful carved tympanum, now kept inside mounted at the west end of the nave. The subject is the Virgin & Child, shown frontally surrounded by the characteristic swirling foliage favoured by Romanesque artists, within which an eagle and a large and fierce looking winged lion are seen (two of the evangelists' symbols?). It is a fine example of the renowned Herefordshire School of carvers active in the 12th century, and was exhibited in London in 1984 where I first saw it.
The church's interior otherwise has some (non-figurative) fragments of 14th century glass reset in its east window and a collection of 17th century memorial tablets in the south aisle.
Memorial Tablet, Fownhope
St Mary's at Fownhope is renowned for it's Romanesque features; although most of the body of the church is the result of 13th & 14th century remodelling and enlargement the Norman central tower remains complete (and crowned by a shingled broach spire).
The most important Norman element however is the beautiful carved tympanum, now kept inside mounted at the west end of the nave. The subject is the Virgin & Child, shown frontally surrounded by the characteristic swirling foliage favoured by Romanesque artists, within which an eagle and a large and fierce looking winged lion are seen (two of the evangelists' symbols?). It is a fine example of the renowned Herefordshire School of carvers active in the 12th century, and was exhibited in London in 1984 where I first saw it.
The church's interior otherwise has some (non-figurative) fragments of 14th century glass reset in its east window and a collection of 17th century memorial tablets in the south aisle.