Two Angels...................................The Breedon Angel & The Litchfield Angel

Flying apart

I have known and been familiar with the Breedon Angel in the Priory Church of St. Mary and St. Hardulph since childhood. The church is spectacularly situated atop Breedon Hill. A prominent limestone knoll that rises 122 metres (400 ft) above the surrounding landscape. The church sits on what was once an Iron Age Hill Fort making it visible for miles around and giving it extensive panoramic views in all directions.  

The angel is a significant piece of Mercian art being the oldest surviving stone carving of an angel in Britain. It is an incredible 1200 years old and the result of what was once a flourishing Mercian monastery at Breedon-on-the-Hill. The church has a huge number of Anglo-Saxon sculptures including various figures "fantastical beasts" and grotesque animals running around friezes, and if you look carefully you can find tiny devils peeping out from mortar joints. All of the stone Anglo Saxon carvings that we see inside the church today were originally located around the exterior of the building, but thankfully moved inside during the medieval period.

The Breedon Angel

This stone carved angel represents a not too happy looking Archangel Gabriel depicted within an arched opening. He is covered in formal robes, the body being subtly contoured to suggest movement, seemingly "stepping out of the frame". One hand holds a cross-headed staff, while the other is raised in a distinctive blessing gesture in the Byzantine style, which highlights potential links between Mercia and the Eastern Mediterranean. At the figure's feet are two flowering plants. The sculpture is carved in limestone, and traces of paint have been found on the wings. It is generally very well preserved having been incorporate into the interior walls of the churches bell-ringing tower during the medieval period. The angels age and rarity makes the statue priceless so the original carving is now no longer accessible to the public - it is firmly locked away behind a door. However, an exact replica is on display within the church. Made in 2001, using modern processes that involved 3D laser scanning of the original statue, the replica can now be viewed in the south aisle of the church thus allowing visitors to see this important artwork.

Coming together

              

In 2003 an event occurred which adds some new interesting information to the fascination of the Breedon Angel. During archaeological excavations in the nave of Litchfield Cathedral, construction workers were removing the floor when they discovered an 8th C Anglo-Saxon limestone panel broken into three pieces beneath it. At the time that it was hidden beneath the floor the pieces had been carefully placed face downwards, thus preserving the remnants of the original Saxon paint. The excavation was part of a project to prepare for a new retractable platform in the cathedral's nave.

The Litchfield Angel

The Litchfield angel also represents Archangel Gabriel, but with a smile on his face. The sculpture is remarkably preserved having been protected from weathering and potential destruction for 1000 years thus allowing traces of its original paint to survive, which is rare. It reveals that vibrant colours were used having details such as a red robe, red and white wings, and a white halo edged in ochre. 

The sculpture is thought to have been deliberately broken up and interred in a shallow pit sometime before the end of the 9th century. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that in 910 the Northumbrian Viking army ravaged over Mercia. The cathedral at Lichfield was despoiled, suggesting it was a target for the Vikings seeking portable wealth, such as gold, silver and other valuable goods. 

Perhaps you have a "Litchfield Angel" rose growing in your garden, but did you know that Nursery man David Austin named the rose to honour the Litchfield Angel? 

These are my own thoughts re: the similarities between the two angels.

By road today Litchfield to Breedon entails a 40 mile road journey, but 1200 years ago "as the crow flies" Litchfield was a 20 mile brisk days walk uphill and down dale from Breedon. 

Were the two angels carved by the same stone mason? or maybe another carver saw the Breedon angel and copied it. To me the stylistic similarities between the two carvings, dating to the same period, strongly suggests a shared artistic context and potentially the same stonemason's hand or workshop.

Do you have a Smartphone?

Life can be particularly tricky for those of us who do not have a smart phone, so why don't I have one? I see so many people, especially the younger generation, spending all of their time on their phone to the detriment of so many other aspects of their lives. However, for those of us who do not have a smart phone life is a continual struggle as we try to negotiate life without one.  

We have notice how smart phones can adversely affect peoples' behaviour. For example, whilst travelling on a bus or train we have seen young mothers with their child in a pushchair scrolling on a phone. The child too scrolls on a screen, and often not a single word passes between them for the entire journey. 

I do have a tiny mobile phone which I use to send texts and make phone calls when away from home etc. It also allows doctors, hospitals, dentists etc to contact us via a text message re: appointments, which suits us fine.

I have an instagram account, but instagram is supposed to be for smart phone users only. Somehow I have been able to manage an account from the computer. I cannot do all of the fancy things that others can do on instagram, but it keeps me in touch with my grandchildren, family and friends. 

Recently I purchased an item from Amazon which was unsuitable. They sent me an email with a QR code to scan into my smart phone so that it could be returned free of charge. I wondered if I could use my small digital camera and looked on the internet for information. It said that it had to be done on a smart phone, and that a standard digital camera would be unable to scan a QR code. For me there was no alternative, but to give my camera a try. I told the assistant at the Post Office that I only had a photo of the code on my camera, and she said let's give it a shot, and low and behold it happily worked😁

I suggest that there will come a time when we can no longer work our way around living without a smart phone. But for me and many others the progression of the A1 revolution is frightening. Criminals are making £millions by scamming and phishing innocent people all over the world. A Russian gang has recently held M&S, Harrods, and the Co-op to ransom for several weeks losing them all £millions and £millions of loss.

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Stiles - Walking through the British countryside

Stiles have been a part of British country life for a very long time, in fact the word "stile" has Anglo Saxon origins. I understand that stiles are only found in Britain, but do correct me should I be wrong. Stiles allow safe human passage through the countryside whilst protecting livestock from straying. Stiles are also used to walk through fields of crops, but only if they have a designated footpath going across.

A writer in 1564 described the difficulty of getting his dog over one and, in the 19th century, rural poet John Clare remembered their value as a momentary place of reflection:

"He lolls upon each resting stile

To see the fields so sweetly smile

To see the wheat grown green and long."

A Lake District ladder stile

Stiles have evolved in many formats over the centuries, some of which could even be classed as minor triumphs of early Victorian engineering. The remaining stiles shown below are local to us on our high Cotswold escarpment which we ourselves use on a regular basis. 

This stile is a two minute walk from home - it requires a certain amount of agility to climb over. Fortunately both of us can still manage it. 

This one is also close to home - a four minute walk in the opposite direction. Over the stile cattle can be seen safely grazing.

This is an interesting gravity balanced stile. 

A gentle push opens and closes it. 

This is a Victorian stile known as a "kissing gate".

The name "kissing gate" is thought to come from the fact that the gate "kisses" (touches) each side of the enclosure, hence the name, and it doesn't need a latch to be secured. It allows people to pass through while effectively preventing livestock from doing so.

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Conclave to determine who swaps the red hat for a white one begins today.....

..........and like many others I shall be interested to learn which of the 133 cardinals will be elected by a two-thirds majority. At the outset I must declare that I am not a catholic, but do find the whole historical business of what is happening in Rome intriguing.

The cardinals will be locked away deliberating and praying to select the new pope, but do we really know what goes on, and do you know where Conclave is held?

You may not be interested in who these elderly men select, but the sight of them colourfully kitted out in their red gowns, white lace, and red hats, accompanied by choirs singing Veni, Creator Spiritus as they process into the Sistine Chapel does focus the eye. The Sistine Chapel is where they will remain until the decision is reached. All windows have been blocked and the entrance doors will lock behind them with a cry of "Extra onmes"  - everyone out. No electronic devices are allowed in the chapel, it is checked for bugs beforehand and all participants have to undergo security checks. They must swear an oath which invites damnation if they breathe a single detail of what takes place.

To the outside world this is all very peculiar in an age when television, the internet and freedom of information legislation mean that there are hardly any private moments left. However, under the gaze of the media in the centre of a European city Conclave still manages to go about it business in secrecy. 

Vatican workers, and firefighters have completed the installation of the stove in the Sistine chapel complete with chimney on the roof above. 

The only clues as to the election's progress or lack of it are the puffs of dark smoke that rise four times a day above the Vatican to signal inconclusive ballot papers are being burnt in the Sistine Chapel. Damp straw used to be used to make sure the smoke was grey, but in a rare concession to modernity chemicals are now preferred. Once the winner has emerged, white smoke appears and to avoid any doubt, church bells are also rung.

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A trip down memory lane.

One of my husband's young relatives arranged a trip for both of us to visit the village where he grew up in Surrey, a place he left as a teenager. Unbeknown to us she had spoken to the owner of what had been his grandfather's farmhouse and arranged for us to see the property.

My husband's grandfather, grandmother, and their five children. The young 7 year old boy standing between his parents is my husband's father - he was the only child who stayed on to manage and help run the farm with his father.

This pen and ink drawing of the farmhouse was done from a photograph by one of my husband's cousins 40 years ago, and this is how my husband remembers it. The barn at the side of the farmhouse sits on staddle stones (mushroom) legs which kept rats and other unwanted creatures away from the corn stored inside. Both the property and the barn are now Grade 11 listed.

This is how the farmhouse looks today, but I personally feel, that it has lost some of its charm. The entrance porch has been removed, and the interesting square patterns created by the brick and flint stone work when it was built in 1590 are now hidden by paint.

We wandered down to the village church and discovered that strangely there were two entrance pathways leading up to the church. 

However, I discovered that this deep pathway traditionally is used to carry coffins into the church, which makes sense.

The photo below shows both pathways leading to the church. 

We loved the pretty steeple made out of chestnut wood shingles which over the years has turned a lovely shade of silver-grey, and the attractive sundial clock. The bird flying around the tower was one of several Buzzards seen soaring up into the sky on thermals.      

H0RA PARS VITÆ

Every hour is a part of life

This last image is another ink drawing again done by my husband's cousin from an old photo. This is the road that runs besides the church, and we were surprised to see that it still looks exactly the same today even though this image was probably taken during the 1930s.

Quiz...........The Answer

This small wooden carved Treen lady with a head and pair of boots which can be removed is known as an Artist's Companion. The age of the carving indicates that she may have belonged to a lady who lived during the end of the Georgian era leading into the Victorian era. 

The head reveals a small blade that could have been used for etching, engraving, sculpturing or perhaps a pallet knife used to mix different paint colours. One boot has a pencil, and the other a brush. 

The only correct answer came from Debra, who incidentally is a gifted artist herself. She even got all of the items correct apart from the knife which she thought might be an eraser. Well done Debra, and thank you to all of those who gave the quiz a shot. 

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

  

Guess the Quiz?

 A rare piece of Antique Treen from c 1850 

This unusual piece of treen consist of a carved lady, whose boots and head pull off. To each is attached an item revealing what she is used for.  

Can you guess her purpose, and what the three items might be? She was not used in a domestic environment. 

I will leave the post up for one week. If you get the correct answer then I will hold it back so that everyone has the same chance. 

'Time Out'

 During the middle of December I caught a very unpleasant virus the consequences of which have stayed around until recently. With the many disturbing events around the world; the urge to blog is currently absent. However, by re-posting this happy sunny visit to the beautiful city of Lecce in Southern Italy, I am hoping that this might help to alleviate my lapse. 

Baroque Lecce

There are hazards to visiting Italy and setting your heart on seeing particular treasures as I have discovered over the course of many, many, visits.

Years ago, my youngest son did History of Art at school, and I took him to Florence for a few days so that he could view the paintings and sculptures from the Renaissance that he was passionate about seeing. One of the many places on his list was a visit to the church of Santa Maria where he longed to see the great frescoe cycle in the Brancacci Chapel done by the young Renaissance painter, Masaccio. Although Masaccio died when he was only 27 years old, and despite his brief career, he had a profound influence on all the other artists during that Quattrocento period. We made our way to the chapel only to discover that the particular cycle he wanted to see was under wraps for restoration - needless to say my son was hugely disappointed. I myself have visited the cathedral of Orvieto twice, three years apart, in order to see a particular frescoe by Luca Signorelli, and both times it has been under wraps. After visiting Italy so many times I now realise that it is best not to set too high an expectation of seeing particular treasures in order to avoid disappointment. It was, therefore, no surprise to discover that the baroque exterior of the Basilica in Lecce that I was looking foward to seeing was under wraps!

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The city of Lecce 'Florence of the South'

I was comfortable with the buildings in Lecce - they had a familiarity to them being made of a similar honey coloured limestone that surrounds me back home in the Cotswolds

Many of the balconies in Lecce are held up by a variety of wonderful cavorting beasts - horses, lions, and mythical creatures or as in this case sheep.

It is early afternoon and the Duomo along with the Bell Tower are now shut, fortunately we visited the inside during the morning. What we found extraordinary was that we were able to stand in the sunshine and admire this building and have it completely to ourselves. Carved by Giuseppe Zimbalo, architect and sculptor he was known as 'Lo Zingarello' (little gypsy). He earned the Baroque city of Lecce the title of 'Barocco leccese' which flourished under his guidance during the mid c17th

Bell Tower

From far below the Bell Tower I could just make out a ceramic tiled roof which I endeavoured to capture. When I put the photo into the computer I was very surprised to spot the bronze figure of St. Oronzo which was not visible from the ground. He is holding an orb and cross, the symbol of Christian authority from the Middle Ages. St. Oronzo was appointed to be the Bishop of Lecce by St. Paul in AD57 and some of you may remember that we encountered him previously in the little white hilltop town of Ostuni.  

Bizzarely, in one of these Seminary buildings, castrato singers were once supplied to the Vatican! A practice that fortunately ceased towards the end of the c18th.

 Here is St. Oronzo once again dominating the centre of Lecce - he keeps on popping up all over southern Italy. The column he stands on is from antiquity and once marked the end of the Appian Way - one of the earliest and strategically most important Roman roads of the ancient republic which ran all the way from Rome to nearby Brindisi. The people of Brindisi presented this column to the city of Lecce.

In the Piazza of St. Oronzo is a first century Roman theatre which was discovered in the 1930s. Hidden beneath the main city streets, it was found to be virtually intact complete with orchestra and seats

Down narrow alleyways

and through arcaded passages

we arrive at Lo Zingarello's crowning glory - the basillica of Santa Croce

with its exuberant Baroque rose window

and elaborate exterior covered in many hidden messages and symbols. The caryatid above represents a turbaned warrior from Assia Minor, now Turkey. It is giving out a message regarding the feelings of the people of Lecce towards their invaders. This warrior is now destined to hold up their basilica forever!

Inside the exuberance continues, but I didn't feel that it was too much - I liked it 

In Lecce, unlike northern Italian cities, when the clock strikes one until 4 o'clock you can enjoy the whole place virtually to yourselves.