Choir Stalls and Their Carvings; Examples of Misericords from English Cathedrals and Churches (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 Excerpt: ...is foliage, with the exception of one, which has a man's head. Plate 50. ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH, BISHOP'S STORTFORD, HERTFORDSHIRE. There is a tradition that the misericords in this church came from St. Paul's Cathedral after the fire. The living is in the gift of the Precentor of St. Paul's and the Bishop of St. Alban's, alternately, so that if they were preserved they may have been sent here. Against this theory must be set the fact that the carving is hardly good enough for such an important edifice as St. Paul's. With the exception of N0. 1, south, all the "supporters" are rather stiff leaves, some turned down, others turned up. North Side, commencing West. A monk with curly hair, holding a shield. A nun in proper head-dress, with two tiny hands. A man's head, clean shaven. A man's head, with beard. Head of a man, with beard. A man's head, with drapery. An eagle. Head of a mot.k, with cowl. A grotesque head. ALL SOULS' COLLEGE, OXFORD. There are forty-two stalls in the chapel, four being returned; but these are later, and have no misericords. The elbows are uncarved. They date 1442. The College was founded by Archbishop Chichele in 1437 for a Warden and forty Fellows. It is curious that the arms of Chichele do not appear on these stalls as they do at Higham Ferrers, Northants, his other Foundation. North Side, commencing West. " Blank. 3. A man seated, his hood drawn over his head, playing the bagpipes. D. & S., rose. 4. A double-bodied mermaid with extended arms. It seems as if she had held some objects in her hands, but they are broken off. D. & S., rose. Fig. 3-5-A man in a belted long cloak, seated on a four-legged stool, on his head a flat cap, his left hand is held up to his ear, his right hand holds up his right leg. D., a ma...