The church at Ruardean, Gloucestershire, is dedicated to St John the Baptist. So it is quite unusual that the largest and oldest piece of sculpture portrays St George killing the dragon. This can be seen in the tympanum of the mid-C12 Norman doorway sheltered by the south porch. It is in the style of the Herefordshire school of sculpture and comparisons have been made with work at Brinsop, Herefordshire, and western France. The sculptor gave the piece an animated, vigorous feel with its billowing cloak, trampled dragon (very serpent-like) and powerful thrust of the spear.
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2
