Wednesday 6 February 2013

Edifice quiz

This minor but very unique edifice is of international importance in its own sphere. It is hand carved out of Cotswold stone.
It sits just beyond the churchyard, do not be led astray it has nothing whatsoever to do with religion or death!!!
Comments which are correct will not be published until I show the answer - this will give everyone a chance at having a guess.
Answer on Saturday 9th February.

55 comments:

  1. OK, no answers from me but I have spent a few minutes gazing at your beautiful pictures. Just look at that light and the architectural details.

    Thank you!

    Stephanie

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    1. It is not easy to guess - the photos were taken in the early evening at the end of a glorious day.

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  2. Hello Rosemary, I have no idea what this is for, but certain Asian temples that require you to remove shoes need something like this to store shoes (or umbrellas, etc.) while people are inside.

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    1. Ah Jim, - what a great thought - well done, but sorry not correct. It would be ideal for what you suggest though.

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  3. What a gorgeous little carved structure. After racking my brain I keep going back to birds - either roosts for returning homing pidgeons or nesting boxes for, say, doves? Can't wait to find out the answer, Rosemary.

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    1. Dear Patricia - what a great idea - I like your suggestion - good thinking on your part.

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  4. Perhaps...to tie horses?? It's beautiful

    Marina

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    1. Very imaginative idea - thank you for giving it a go Marina

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  5. When I saw that 1st photo I immediately thought of some sort of communal barbeque. You'd keep the wood/coal on the bottom shelf, do the cooking on the middle one and then the top one would be used to keep food warm while you're cooking!!

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    1. What a great idea Paula - lots of people are having very imaginative thoughts on the edifice. I had wondered if you might have seen it as you live in the Cotswold area.

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  6. Rosemary, I think this is your best quiz yet because I don't have a clue. I'm going to take a stab at it , though. I'm guessing that for some special events, individual meals were placed in those alcoves, perhaps for the hunt.

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    1. That is a brilliant idea Mark, but sorry not quite right. You can always come back and have another go if you have a lightbulb moment.

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  7. I believe the structure was a bee apiary - the hives or bee skeps were put each in one of the divided sections?

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  8. Uncanny.
    I have just come home from shopping.. and am going through my blogs.
    I go with Mark.. I think its where the plates and dishes were places for afternoon tea after mass or for church gatherings in the summer. On your second photo and the 3rd.. there are some plates i think stacked in there..

    I thought it might be for pigeons ..but i dont think so.
    It could also be where the post was left for the parish priest. ):
    One more guess. It was an outside study area .. for books the priests..
    love this one.. I will be working on this one all night.
    great Rosemary.
    cant wait to read the answer.

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    1. Lots of great ideas there Val - however, sorry not the right answer. You can come back again if you think of something else, but don't waste too much time thinking about it - you are a busy lady at the moment getting ready for your trip.

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  9. I love the sideshots, gorgeous work on the curling dividers :)

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  10. Dear Roemary,i love your quiz!I'll guess they do putt the candle vigil, I see signs of smoke,i'll wait until Saturday ,it's also my birthday!!Wishing you a lovely evening!
    Dimi..

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    1. Do pop back on your birthday Dimi if you have time. I think that the smoke effect is just years of weathering on the stone.

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  11. I have absolutely no idea what this pretty and intriguing bit of 'furniture' is, so will be eagerly awaiting the answer!
    x

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  12. I know! It's a kind of shoe cupbpard of the outdoor kind! Before going into church you scrape the mud off your wellies, using the "shelf thing" at the base of the edifice. Having done this, you then take your wellies off and place them (remember to name them on the inside!) in one of the rectangular compartments. People whose wellies are named are allowed to share a space. Don't forget to bring a pair of clean, dry shoes, as you will not be allowed to enter the place of worship barefoot (unless you are a guide dog, in which case, this rule DOES NOT APPLY)

    I bet I got it right this time, didn't I, Rosemary?

    I love the way the small edifice was carved. Very, very ingenious!

    ENJOY THE REST OF THE EVENING.

    ANNA
    xx

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    1. Dear Anna - you have had lots of fun here and I have enjoyed it. Many ingenious ideas coming from you. I wish Anna that I could say you had got it right, but sadly I shall have to say a great big "no" this time.
      Take care and thank you for trying so hard.
      Ciao

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  13. I wouldn't know what it is but if I have to guess, it is a place to put your shoes in.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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    1. Sorry Filip - good try, but not the answer - thanks for giving it a go.

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  14. I had several ideas but the 'of international importance' doesn't aply to any, so I just don't have a clue Rosemary but I guess some already had....., and you didn't by coincidence publish one of those comments too soon ;))
    Bye,
    Marian

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    1. I had just replied to you Marian, but have now deleted it since your second email came in. There are two of you with the correct answer now. Whose a clever girl then!!!
      I had thought of saying that if anyone got it right I would eat my hat - so glad I didn't!!!

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  15. Found it, didn't guess it, but I just had to dig a bit further and found it quite fast. Though 'of international importance'????..... My first idea was something for animals to find shelter but it's for bees I now know.

    "The 19th century Bee Shelter in the village of Hartpury, Gloucestershire, is unique. Made of Cotswold stone, it consists of 28 compartments known as 'boles' which housed skeps (straw or wicker baskets) in which the bees congregated. Skeps were widely used until the arrival of the wooden hive in the mid-19th century. The Bee Shelter is in St Mary's churchyard in the village - and is well worth a visit."

    Found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterdenton/2373859476/

    It is a beautiful and well preserved piece!

    Bye,
    Marian

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  16. Beautiful picture and more info here:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/48028479@N00/5698449515/in/pool-fcu/

    So it hasn't always been where it is now.
    Really a unique piece of architecture.

    Thanks for tickling our curiosity once more Rosemary!

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  17. What a mystery! It looks like a place to store something and since it isn't shoes could it be your picnic basket? Go into the church and pray then come out for lunch. Or maybe I'm just getting hungry for dinner.

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    1. I like that idea Sarah - perhaps they should think of having something along those lines anyway? but they don't at the moment.

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  18. I don't have a clue, Rosemary, but it certainly is beautiful. Looking forward to knowing the answer.

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    1. You look at it and feel as if you should know the answer but it isn't obvious.

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  19. We keep coming up with ideas but don't really know.... and have tried cheating by googling: curious stone shelves in Coltswold village near church.

    Is it a place for leaving food/alms for the poor of the parish?

    Or somewhere for the local bakehouse to put dishes of cooked food for collection?

    Or maybe it's a form of post box in stage-coach days?

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    1. Lots of great ideas there Celia - someone has googled it and come up with the answer. I did think of saying that if anyone got it correct "I would eat my hat" so I am glad that I didn't.

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  20. looks a bit like a chicken coup?

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    1. Thanks for giving it a go Tommy - but not the answer. There are incidentally several of these in Scotland, but not freestanding like this one!!!

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  21. A place for individual watering cans. ox, Gina

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    1. A selection of galvanised old watering cans would look rather charming in the cubby holes but that is not what they were used for!!! However, It would make a lovely garden feature with your idea of watering cans, pots of geraniums and other garden knick-knacks.

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  22. This is fun! I want to say a place for mail to be delivered but it looks like that has been rejected. Can't wait to hear. Such great photos of whatever it is. It is quite pretty.
    Ruthie

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    1. Thank you for giving it a try Ruthie - it is a nice little edifice and could happily grace a garden.

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  23. Hello Rosemary

    I have a big smile from reading all the comments. Did the Hattatts get the right answer? I see they are missing from the list. That is probably my best detective work.

    Let me see, could it be where the tenants ration of milk was kept?

    Helenxx

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    1. Hello Helen - that is a novel suggestion - apart form Marian the other person who got it correct is someone that has never visited my blog before, as far as a know - they are unknown to me.

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  24. I have no idea what it is, but it's beautiful! Love looking at all your pictures!! I hope to visit the Cotswolds some day soon!

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    1. Dear Tina - it isn't easy, but once you know the answer you will recognise them in the future. Glad you enjoyed seeing some of the pictures.

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  25. I quess those "shelves" are for weapons. Men didn't wear weapons when they went to the church..?

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    1. Thank you for your visit and for giving it a go - good try and something that no one else has mentioned, the answer will be revealed tomorrow.

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  26. I've found out what the edifice is by systematic research on the internet (Gloucestershire Churches Montage website)! It's a beehive rack or shelter. If I hadn't found out I would have thought the same as the last blogger, My life, that it was for leaving weapons or top hats outside the church by worshippers as there's a cross incorporated in the stonework, although there would have had to be someone to guard such items and these would more likely to have been left at the church door porch.

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  27. It's a shelter of some kind, Rosemary, isn't it?

    C IAO!

    ANNA

    xxx

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    1. Yes Anna, you are right, but what is it a shelter for?
      Ciao♥

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    2. Birds... pigeons... doves (a kind of original dovecote, maybe?) Though I see no trace of droppings... or feathers...

      ANNA

      xx

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    3. My last try: has to be a bus shelter!

      CIAO!

      ANNA
      xx

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    4. Yes, you are definitely right there Anna - no droppings or feathers. A bus shelter for fairies or pixies perhaps!!!

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  28. it's a remarkable object, reminds me of things I saw in Istanbul and yet its influences are obviously far removed from the Near East.

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  29. Hi Rosemary, after going through all the above guesses, I don't think I want to hazard a guess. I shall just wait for the correct answer :D This is a very interesting structure.

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