We've just spent the weekend with Sarah, Mikey, Lucy and Guy; and a very pleasant weekend it was. On Sunday, yesterday, Mikey ran us across to a Stately Home he's just discovered (Castle Ashby) and which I didn't know of. We passed the above farmhouse on the way there. Can't remember where it was, but it's a lovely little farmhouse (about the same age as our house) and the way both chimneys leaned to the left made me feel better about our leaning Tudor chimneys.
Above photo is of the place we were heading for (Mikey warned us that the house isn't open on Sundays) but the gardens were, and were well worth while a wander round.
The church in the grounds was just a small country Church dating from the 1300s, with some nice early contents. The chap carved on a slab, above, was all in mail (i.e. chain armour) and was probably a crusader. I told Sarah that he was the oldest chap in the church.
A couple of minutes later Sarah called out "Daddy - I've found an earlier chap", and pointed out the bloke above. Had to admit she was almost certainly right.
Mikey was very taken with the stained glass, which was really rather good (probably of early nineteenth century date I think).
We all liked Saint George above - we loved the nonchalant way he's dragging home a very dead dragon- obviously the day's bag.
Must go, Got to answer a 'phone call, and I'm told supper's ready.
3 comments:
The effigy's crossed legs and his grip on his sword are typical of crusader memorials. I think I agree with you and Sal on the seniority of the carved head; could it be late Saxon, recycled from an earlier chapel? Or maybe it is a Saxon stone-mason's depiction of a Norman over-lord?
I've just looked it up; the effigy is of Sir David de Esseby, who died around 1265. The name Esseby was later transformed into Ashby, but initially the parish was known as Esseby David.
Hello Carl. I think it is a corbel of some sort, from an earlier church, probably, as you suggest, late Saxon.
Thanks for looking up the effigy. It's interesting to know who it was; Sir David of Esseby/Ashby, probably a Crusader.
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