Mouse's #RiverAxeTopThree #Somerset. So which of the sixteen churches would Mouse recommend visiting? In at number two: #StMaryChriston. The only church with a Norman heart and soul, with some lovely Norman Romanesque features and recently discovered wall paintings 800 years old
If Mouse talking doors on her nostalgic tour of the #BestOfTheRiverAxeChurches then this pure Norman Romanesque beauty of a doorway has to get an honorable mention. The door and #ChurchDoorFittings aint half bad either #AdoorableThursday from #StMaryChriston #Somerset
While Mouse thinking about porches (which she was) on her #BestOfTheRiverAxeChurches reverie, here is a reminder of the porch of #StMaryChriston #Somerset. Pure Norman and always in Mouse's heart. Probably Mouse's favourite photo too #AdoorableThursday
The #BestofTheRiverAxeChurches #Somerset: Churches with tremendous tiles #StJohnBiddisham #StMaryChriston #StLawrenceWestbury #TilesOnTuesday
Good tiles. A thing Mouse see least on her travels. No more than a third of churches
(to see more of each church just click the named #)
The #ScamperDownTheAxe. 16 churches, just 28 miles over 16 weeks. And here they are: #ChurchesOfTheAxe (4 of 4) #StJohnBiddisham #StMaryChriston #StAndrewLoxton #StPeterBleadon
Not even a second thought. The #MouseFavouritePhoto from #StMaryChriston #Somerset. Something everyone should have the chance to see, interested in Norman Romanesque or not. Mouse say "simply beautiful"
And as #FontsMeanFarewell, what of the church of #StMaryChriston #Somerset? Although it got unnecessarily Normaned up by the Victorians this is a church of real significance and worth a visit for the Norman wall painting alone. Mouse giving a solid 4/5 #MusVisit 🐭🐭🐭🐭
And finally, in celebration of #RomanesqueRiday on Friday (thank you Rufus) a last look at the south door #StMaryChriston #Somerset. And.... relax
A nice example of #LessIsMore with this lovely ironwork on the simple flat font cover #StMaryChriston #Somerset #FerrousFriday. Sadly though also revealing another church heritage crime the inexcusable #CupRingOnFontCover
Another for the file marked #PintlesInAction, because Mouse absolutely positively cannot resist them Interior south door #StMaryChriston #Somerset #FerrousFriday
Interior south door #ChurchDoorFittings #StMaryChriston #Somerset #FerrousFriday
From the interior it becomes clear that this single planked and ledged door is a C19 imposter although full marks for reusing the external fittings. These fittings have the tang of mass production
The enduring allure of #ChurchDoorFittings #StMaryChriston #Somerset #FerrousFriday
Beautiful and quite early fittings, fitted with studs just as they should be. Mouse particularly enjoying the shape of the escutcheon
Font fuss (4/4). A figure used extensively in Norman Romanesque decoration. When tessellated in different ways it generates a range of patterns from font to arch to tympanum. Mouse think of this as a precursor to the Early English dogtooth #StMaryChriston #Somerset #FontsOnFriday
Font fuss (3/4). A common motif in Norman Romanesque decoration, when repeated many times and arranged so that the tips of the projections touch it gives an opposing chevron pattern #StMaryChriston #Somerset #FontsOnFriday
Incoming font fuss (1/4). Pretty pristine C12 #FabbyFont. Square section with decorated sides on single cylindrical support and chamfered square plinth. Despite the sign and fire extinguisher that sneaked in a fine example of its type #StMaryChriston #Somerset #FontsOnFriday
Mouse started so late yesterday she missed a few things off her 'Tweetlist'. The headline is this rather nice C16 wagon roof to the nave of #StMaryChriston #Somerset
At last. All is revealed. The gate between nave and central tower #StMaryChriston #Somerset #Thursgate #IronworkThursday
Of course Mouse could skitter underneath but (takes deep breath and stands tall) Mouse an upright law abiding musizen
They may be grand, they may be ever so 'umble, whichever they are a gate's a gate and a thing of beauty #Thursgate #IronworkThursday from #StMaryChriston #Somerset
There is just something unutterably beautiful about this door and window combo set against the sunlit ironstone. Makes Mouse shiver...
South side of chancel #StMaryChriston #Somerset #AdoorableThursday
Chamfered pseudo-4-centred arch holding planked doorway. And yes, it is narrower at the bottom than the top. Mouse seen this several times now. Is it a 'thing'? #AdoorableThursday
Narrow priests door south side of chancel, C15 style #StMaryChriston #Somerset
Detail of the south doorway #StMaryChriston #Somerset #DoorwayThursday
Clockwise from left. meandros on the drip and chevrons on the outer order, lozenges made from roll moulded 'X' figures, and nook shaft surmounted by scalloped capital and cavetto abacus
More or less as nature, or at least the Norman mason intended. An unusually complete and un-tinkered with 'classic' Norman Romanesque doorway right down to the nooks. The planked door is pretty lovely too #StMaryChriston #Somerset #AdoorableThursday
And finally from Mouse.. comparatively recently uncovered Norman Romanesque decoration in red ochre. Motifs drawn from nature typical of the period. A wonderful find indeed. Respond and capital, nave arch to tower #StMaryChriston #Somerset #WallsOnWednesday #WallPaintingWednesday
North and east of chancel #StMaryChriston #Somerset #WallsOnWednesday
Zoom in to see traces of herringbone courses (left) and long and short work (right). The rubble is somewhat different from the tower and nave. Perhaps a little hint at some Saxon origins?
First stage of tower #StMaryChriston #Somerset #WallsOnWednesday
The quoins (detail left) unusually extend for more than one ashlar almost as if they were once part of a coursed and dressed stone wall. The fit between each stone is a thing of beauty in its own right
South (left) and north (right) of chancel #StMaryChriston #Somerset. The south widow is original C16 the north a copy or replacement. The head of the latter is monolithic. The surround is full of cracks which suggests that there are some serious forces at work #WindowsOnWednesday
Victorian stained glass in Romanesque-style window. Rather nice Mouse think #StMaryChriston #Somerset #WindowsOnWednesday
South of chancel #StMaryChriston #Somerset #WindowsOnWednesday
Always a Mouse favourite; 2-light square window with cusped lights, hollow spandrels and keeled ovolo moulded label with no stops. C16. Looks beautiful set against the colour of the rubble construction
