Shobdon Arches

Before I forget the post about Shobdon Arches, here we go.  There were lovely views across the Herefordshire countryside by the Arches, but that position is their downfall as all the Welsh weather tears across and weathers them.  I would have thought a weatherbreak to the West of them might have been sensible but obviously they weren't valued - just thought of as a curiosity, and the font not even that.

The original church must have been quite something, and one wonders about the facades which were totally destroyed and any fascinating "Kilpeckian" carvings used as a spiritual warning to those who were illiterate (probably rubble beneath the current church).

Above and below - one of the Tympanums, incredibly weathered now so that only the leftmost figure is recognizable as such. This would have been the Harrowing of Hell. The central figure was Christ thrusting his staff into the mouth of the Devil, whilst his left hand pulls Adam from hell.  The two other figures are women, the taller of the two probably being Eve.  The bearded figure is probably St John the Baptist.

SUCH a shame that such amazing craftsmanship  has been destroyed.  Such a superb example of the work of the Herefordshire School of Romanesque Sculpture did NOT deserve such treatment.

Above and below, the other Tympanum which shows Christ enthroned, His right hand raised in blessing and the other clasping a closed book.  He is surrounded by a huge beaded mandorla which in turn is held by four elongated Angels.  There are two theories about this - one is that it is Christ's Ascension into Heaven (whereby it balances the Harrowing of Hell Tympanum), or alternatively Christ in Majesty.  There is much similarity between this and a capital in Hereford cathedral in that the Christ figure is seated in the same stance.

This is a plaster cast of the right arch and tympanum at Shobdon, and thank heavens it was recorded.  However, this was lost in 1936 when the Crystal Palace, where it was presumably on display, was burned down. 

Historically Hugh  de Mortimer, who held this land, chose "a wise, prudent and conscientious man named Oliver de Merlimond, and made him chief steward of all his land and manager of all his property."  He gave Oliver the vill of Shobdon on his appointment, where there was only a humble chapel made of wood.  The new steward was very keen to have a new church built to replace it.  However, he was set upon making a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella and entrusted a Knight, Bernard, to oversee the work, although the actual construction did not begin until Oliver's return.  This would have been around the mid-1140s.  His journey home through France via Paris took him through Poitou and Saintonge where doorways are commonly carved with radiating wedge-shaped stones (voussoirs) which obviously influenced designs at Shobdon.

My wonderful birthday book.  I foresee LOTS more journeys to remote Welsh churches.  Below one of the two pans which were a really super-duper pressie.  They are much lighter than the Le Creuset ones I have.  I struggle to hold the largest one and spoon out the contents (since falling over Little Whale and permanently damaging my thumb ligament).

Today I am grateful for it feeling warmer (and a good Easter weekend in prospect with sunshine).

For doing "just 3 minutes' " weeding up on the Bank extending rather and some chunks of grass being rehomed.

Finding my young deep purple Magnolia beneath large clumps of grass!

Having a visit from friend P, with some home-baking as a Birthday gift.

Hearing that Swallows have arrived at the stables of someone I know in Herefordshire.

Being asked by some crafting friends to meet up at Wonderwool on the Showground here later this month.

From somewhere finding a Determination I had quite forgotten I ever had to help me  NOT snack between meals or reach for Comfort Food (that has been essential for mental support in recent months).

Getting Keith an appt. with the GP and further tests being pursued.  Plus whilst he was having his bloods done, seeing a Long Tailed Tit on a branch outside, and then a couple of times it landed right on the window frame.