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

Croft Castle, Herefordshire

The first impression the visitor gets of Croft Castle is a seventeenth century house with decorative rather than functional corner turrets that received remodelling in the eighteenth century. Further examination reinforces this idea and it is a real pleasure to walk around the house (it isn't a castle in the usual sense) and work out what was added and when. The medieval St Michael, only a few feet from the main building, emphasizes the importance of the collective power of nobility and the church in seventeenth and eighteen century England. An early arrival at the house, which is in the care of the National Trust, gave me some deep shadows with which to layer my composition.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon D5300

Alderman John Jones d.1630

One of the most interesting memorials in Gloucester Cathedral is that dedicated to Alderman John Jones. Its style shouts seventeenth century and its organisation attempts to bring the deceased back to life by having a painted half-length effigy framed in an oval out of which he projects. The figure is surrounded by details proclaiming his status and also the carved tools of his office. Behind each column are folded deeds dated 1581-1630. He holds a further deed in one hand and in the other is a book. To left and right are stands with writing materials. What is, I presume, a staff of office is streched across the memorial below him. Left and right of the columns are pairs of implements, the use of which is unknown to me. I have seen memorials in this style in many major churches and have always enjoyed the sense of theatre with which they have been deliberately imbued.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon D5300

The Man of Ross inn

The "The Man of Ross" inn can be found at the top of Wye Street in Ross on Wye. It dates from the seventeenth century and has been extensively rebuilt and refaced. Today the Dutch gable above the main entrance carries a tribute to the man himself, John Kyrle (pronounced "curl"). This is what it says:

John Kyrle (1637-1724)
Gained Fame for His Community Involvement
His Modest Life Style and Charitable Works
He Helped Settle Disputes, Aided the Poor & Sick
Supported Schools and Left the Beautiful "Prospect" Walk
with a Fountain and Garden to the Citizens of Ross.

THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST RECORDED ATTEMPTS IN THE COUNTY
TO BEAUTIFY A TOWN FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL THE PEOPLE

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Feathers Hotel, Ludlow

I've seen old timber-framed buildings in many places in England and Wales but I've never seen one anywhere as ornate as The Feathers Hotel, Ludlow. Every piece of wood on the double-jettied facade is embellished in one way or another. Standing in front of the building it is impossible to stop your eye wandering across its facade in search of each carved delight. The frontage was added to an existing building in 1619. The hotel gets its name from the crest of the Prince of Wales.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100