WW1 soldier's memorial

Most churches have memorials to members of the armed forces who died in WW1. Sometimes it is a list of all those in the parish who were killed. Then there are the stained glass windows commemorating an individual. But, by far the most numerous style of memorial are those in the form of a wall plaque in stone, brass or, sometimes, mosaic. The example above is a brass on marble memorial. What caught my eye here was the composition including the Lee Enfield rifles propped against the cross - something I've not seen before. It can be viewed at All Saints church at Hollybush, Worcestershire.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Commemorated in brass

Elsewhere I have extolled the virtues of slate as a medium on which a person may be commemorated. Today I make the claim for brass - it is cheaper in terms of material, costs less to engrave and takes up less space. On the other hand it lasts longest when not exposed to the elements so the inside of a church is clearly the best location. The example above is in St Mary's, Ross on Wye. It was made at a time when English spelling had not been properly standardized. You might like to read it yourself before reading my copy of the text.

HERE LIETH THE BODY OF THOMAS BAKER, MERCER
THE LATE HVSBAND OF IANE HIS WIFE WHO
DECEASED THIS LIFE TO THE KINGDOM OF
HEAVEN THE 14 OF SEPTEMBER 1622

EVEN SVCH IS TIME WHICH TAKES IN TRVST
OVR YOVTH OVR IOIES & ALL WE HAVE
AND PAIES VS BVT WITH EARTH AND DVST
WITHIN THE DARKE AND SILENT GRAVE
WHEN WEE HAVE WANDRED ALL OVR WAIES
SHVTTS VP THE STORIE OF OVR DAIES
NOW FROM WHICH EARTH & GRAVE AND DVST
THE LORD WILL RAISE ME VP I TRVST
Vivat post funera vertus

The Latin inscription at the bottom translates as "Virtue outlives death".

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: iPhone

Old shop front lettering

It is not unusual to come across a shop front that still shows evidence of the Victorian or Edwardian period in which it was constructed. Decorative woodwork, engraved glass, pull out canopies and mosaic signs on the ground by the entrance are all relatively common. Less frequently found are ornate brass shop signs engraved with the name of the business. The letter "R" above is an example from this kind of sign in Ross on Wye, Herefordshire. It reads (across the base of each of the two main windows), "T. PRICE." and is as clear as the day it was put in place. Sadly, the original business is no more and today the premises host a restaurant.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Eagle feathers...

...of a sort are common in many English churches. However, they are made of brass and come in the form of a lectern holding a bible that is in the shape of a brass eagle on a stand. These occasionally date from the medieval period, are sometimes seventeenth or eighteenth century, but most often are Victorian and feature a dedicatory inscription. Such lecterns are usually below and to one side of the chancel arch and make a fine focal point during a service when a passage is read from the bible held on the wings of the eagle. The feathers above are coloured by the reflected surroundings in Great Malvern Priory, Worcestershire.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100