Stiffleaf's photos

detail of the emphasis on line in english art and architecture rather than the expression of theory that is so important to the rationalist french. here arch flows into column with no capital. here the vault's tas-de-charge rests on a corbel not a full shaft. all built in the closing years of the c12; england breaking the classic rules of gothic from the start.

late c12 crossing looking into the nave

this was the priory lady chapel, the arcade once led into the main presbytery of the church. only this chapel survived the dissolution

keeled shafts and crocket capitals with deeply cut arch mouldings formed the arcade dividing the chancel of the monastic church from this south chapel

chalice font with palmette design and jacobean cover

loose capital with beautifully crisp transitional carving

lead font with repeated bishops

one of the most ornate of these fonts, often the designs on the bowl have had to be cut back or are hidden by the corner shafts. lions, snakes and humans vie with ornate foliage in decorating the bowls, and angels or men form the corners.

Originally from the chapel of ease at Elton, the second bowl is a very unusual appendage. It has no drain.

Salamander bites bracket of second bowl of this unusual font.

an oddly positioned tower with a chapel attached, the chancel c13 and nave c14

early c13 lancets in the chancel and nave, with a mid c14 window added, probably to light the rood and an altar.

transitional capital

brave the unfriendly owner to view this early brickwork from the public footpath that she wishes was not on her land! this building was seperate from but at the southern extremity of the east range, and is now a semi derelict and very private barn. it seems to be aligned with the river blackwater, which may even have passed through it before the main reredorter to the north became a farmhouse; could it have been the reredorter of the infirmary ? see also the capella ante portas down the road for brick of the same period.