Italianate loggia, Hoarwithy

A couple of weeks ago we visited a number of "H.Art" arts and crafts exhibitions. This is an annual week in Herefordshire where artists and crafts-people get together, exhibit, and hopefully sell, their work. J.P. Seddon's Victorian Italianate church at Hoarwithy was one such site. The nave was full of a variety of exhibits and the narthex, loggia and back of the church had been turned into a large cafe serving refreshments to visitors. But not so full that I coudn't squeeze out a photograph of the columns and capitals of the loggia.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Leominster capitals

The west doorway of Leominster Priory (it is also also the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul) has capitals that are carved in the manner of the Herefordshire School of stone carving (see Eardisley font). Consequently they must have been carved c1140-1150. My photograph shows details of the south capitals that feature affronted birds, bending men in "beehive" hats cutting leaves, and serpents, as well as ropework, bead and other typical Norman decoration. The detail has lasted remarkably well considering it has been subject to nine hundred years of English weather.

The doorway itself has three orders of shafts,  a hoodmould with chevron ornament, more chevron on the second order, and remarkably, arches that are slightly pointed rather than the usual semicircles of this period.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2