I have always been so fascinated by effigies. I can't travel much so seeing these is such a pleasure and also I love hearing the stories behind the people. Thank you so much.
I too am so interested in these! I think they are Beautiful and would love to see them but since I’m unable to travel these videos are the next best thing. So much detail which we don’t see here in the US.
So interesting to see the last medieval funerary hearse Allan! That it survived through tempestuous years is in itself miraculous! The quality of the carving on the monuments is so beautiful. Thanks for sharing this ramble Allan.
Another video I hate to see end! I love your descriptions of what you are looking at, I am learning so much. I am slowly catching up on the previous videos. Thanks so much for making these fascinating videos!
I agree entirely with the person before…so interesting, I too cannot travel now and it’s truly wonderful to be still able to see these lovely old things.
It is amazing that they survive, I am hoping in some small way that this channel highlights their existence and supports they continuance as they are so valuable.
Wonderful videos you’ve done. I visited the UK in 1986, and able to go to many chapels and abbey’s. Viewed a lot of these effigies tombs. I am a retired Funeral Director from USA. The past several days of cable and UA-cam coverage of the royals has been very interesting.
It is a very great shame, I was last here maybe fifteen or sixteen years ago and they were bad, but not as bad as this - they need to sort out the damp on the north side of the aisle.
On cross-legged effigies, I was taught that this reflected their support of the church via funding of repair, endowments or legacy; not having been on a Crusade.
Clearly the hearse was designed to have material draped over the lower rail in the top center then to be draped over the lower rails on the two sides to make a tent over the coffin. Thank you for your wonderful programs.
Why was no preservation attempt ever made to prevent the tomb effigies against the church wall from disintegrating away? Seems as though they'd have been considered historically significant enough to warrant the funds and effort towards saving them.
Money sadly, each individual church is responsible for the preservation of the heritage in their care. They are certainly worthy of care. There is a huge heritage crisis in the UK.
@Allan Barton - The Antiquary That's very unfortunate, though not at all surprising. All too often, lack of money is typically why so many treasures are eventually lost to the effects of time.
Did you notice the candle holder thing in the entrance of the niche with windows? It looks very much like the hearse, same castellations, same twisted rings. Part of a set perhaps?
Hello@@388Caroline if you go along to the website linked below there are options to set up UK, International and digital subscriptions. www.antiquarymagazine.co.uk/subscribe.html
When I was researching my family tree I did see images of my predecessors tomb images with their legs crossed over with lions at their feet. They were labeled as knights templar. Naturally from tbe description I I believed that every such tomb image would automatically mean the tomb marked the remains as that of a knights templar. Thank you for clarifying that. I used now to do as deep a study as possible on the true vocation and life of those ancestors to be sure they truly were knights templar.
The two effigies in the middle, despite having vulnerable parts to incur damage through time, are in excellent condition. Yet, coincidentally, both have their hands missing. Why is that? Is there a likely reason? Where they originally holding somthing of value - but were deliberately broken to steal whatever they held, or were they vandalised as part of some historical religious protest or just simply accidently broken? Would be interested to know what your thoughts are, thanks.
It is more likely than not accidental damage. The tomb is made of alabaster which is quite brittle and susceptible to damp damage and fracturing. Often bits get knocked off.
@@allanbarton Thanks Allan. Easy to imagine something more sinister when it involves history - when most times its just down to simply that, an accident. 👍
I wonder what the lamp stand at 07.33 was originally? It was evidently made to match the hearse and has been rather clumsily converted into an electric light fitting.
That's an interesting suggestion. I've been pondering doing a video on anchorites and their anchorholds. I've always been rather fascinated by it as a concept and love Julian of Norwich's revelations. Somewhere on the channel is a video where I read part of them. Thanks for posting.
I went to a town where a knight named Duncan I believe had a similar crypt and there was a parchment with explanation of position of legs and things of that nature and it said legs being crossed meant they went on crusade .. was this a common myth ?
Hi Allan. We are in Mexico and we are really enjoying your videos. A quick question: Presumibly all medieval churches in England were originally Catholic churches, therefore why are there no traces of the presence of confession boxes? Thanks if you have the time to answer.
Hello Ludmila - yes many of these buildings had their origin when the church was undivided and there wasn't even a Catholic church. They remained Catholic until the English Reformation when the congregations using them had to accept the religious changes. Confessional boxes were not really a thing until much later in the Catholic church - and people would make their confession kneeling in front of the priest.
@@allanbarton Thank you so much for your reply. We will continue to enjoy watching your videos and seeing your channel deservedly grow. Best of luck with this project!
I imagine that the hearse would have been covered with a pall during the funeral. I've only ever seen illustrations, so thank you so much for this! Also do you think that it was used at the sepulchre in Holy Week - I think I've come across wills that speak of fabrics left for this occasion, and this seems a handy and symbolic hanger.
The coffin itself placed under the hearse would have been covered in the pall - except for really high-status burials people were buried in shrouds and would have borrowed the parish coffin. I'm not sure it would have been used as the Sepulchre, these were very often made of timber and fabric as you say and then placed on top of a table tomb or simply to the north side of the high altar.
@@michaelmontagu3979 Thanks Michael. Sounds very practical. Interesting about the wool, that surely would have been a hardship for some (perhaps leading them to the use of the parish coffin?).
That little niche could also have been a confessional. Granted most were wood, but they might have decided to make this one out of stone. And maybe a good thing, apparently the Protestants who went around destroying churches and such didn't know what it was thus didn't bother with it.
It's really not you know. Millions and millions of pounds from the lottery funds have found there way to many, many obscure, unknown and unnoticed projects as well as the big ticket items. Compared to previous years (pre lottery), heritage is doing well. I live in Hampshire, lost count of the number of churches ect. which spent decades trying to raise money for a new roof, for instance, with cake sales and fetes. That now have a spanking new roof thanks to the lottery. It's more a matter of having somebody competent to put together a bid. Winchester Cathedral is a good example, ok the long term issues with the underpinning are a separate matter, but the building itself is gleaming, pristine. And there is a big noticeboard telling you just how much lottery money they received. Of course it's a separate matter when it comes to heritage being deliberately destroyed because of the current political climate. (Don't talk about lottery funds though, otherwise they'll come after that.)
I have always been so fascinated by effigies. I can't travel much so seeing these is such a pleasure and also I love hearing the stories behind the people. Thank you so much.
I too am so interested in these! I think they are Beautiful and would love to see them but since I’m unable to travel these videos are the next best thing. So much detail which we don’t see here in the US.
My pleasure.
We are very blessed over here and it is my joy to share them with you all.
So interesting to see the last medieval funerary hearse Allan! That it survived through tempestuous years is in itself miraculous! The quality of the carving on the monuments is so beautiful. Thanks for sharing this ramble Allan.
My pleasure, glad you enjoyed it!
Another video I hate to see end! I love your descriptions of what you are looking at, I am learning so much. I am slowly catching up on the previous videos. Thanks so much for making these fascinating videos!
I will start to make them longer. Seriously, I am really grateful for your kind comment about the channel.
I agree entirely with the person before…so interesting, I too cannot travel now and it’s truly wonderful to be still able to see these lovely old things.
It is amazing that they survive, I am hoping in some small way that this channel highlights their existence and supports they continuance as they are so valuable.
Fascinating article. You provide so much information. I am most grateful. Thank you for sharing 🌹
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!
Thank you for spotlighting my family . Well done. ❤❤
Wonderful videos you’ve done. I visited the UK in 1986, and able to go to many chapels and abbey’s. Viewed a lot of these effigies tombs.
I am a retired Funeral Director from USA.
The past several days of cable and UA-cam coverage of the royals has been very interesting.
There are so many to see, glad you were able to come and see some of them in the flesh, so to speak. The last few weeks have been extraordinary.
Wonderful tour! Thanks for sharing! It really is a pity about the deterioration of those tombs!
It is a very great shame, I was last here maybe fifteen or sixteen years ago and they were bad, but not as bad as this - they need to sort out the damp on the north side of the aisle.
What a fascinating and beautiful piece of ironwork! Thanks for your interpretation of it.
My pleasure - it is an unusual survival. Though someone has reminded me of two more, both in collegiate churches at Arundel and Warwick.
Ohhhh, thanks for taking us with you, so exciting, blessings from Memphis Tennessee USA 🐈 and love to my friends across the pond.
Sending that love back from England, I am pleased you liked the tour.
I love the dogs at the feet. Beautiful church, would love to travel through England for all the history that we do not have in America.
On cross-legged effigies, I was taught that this reflected their support of the church via funding of repair, endowments or legacy; not having been on a Crusade.
Clearly the hearse was designed to have material draped over the lower rail in the top center then to be draped over the lower rails on the two sides to make a tent over the coffin.
Thank you for your wonderful programs.
I love the angels holding the Pillow 🙏
This hearse should be in a museum.
A lot of the things in this church should be - our churches are repositories of many wonderful things.
In America 🇺🇸 a 'hearse' is a vehicle that the coffin ⚰ would be placed in. I didn't know that it had another meaning. Thank you.
@@michaelmontagu3979 so interesting. I never knew the real mean of pall. Thank you 🙏
Very interesting. Thank you for posting Allan
My pleasure.
Thank you so much for the information. Extremely interesting!
Thank you.
Why was no preservation attempt ever made to prevent the tomb effigies against the church wall from disintegrating away? Seems as though they'd have been considered historically significant enough to warrant the funds and effort towards saving them.
Money sadly, each individual church is responsible for the preservation of the heritage in their care. They are certainly worthy of care. There is a huge heritage crisis in the UK.
@Allan Barton - The Antiquary That's very unfortunate, though not at all surprising. All too often, lack of money is typically why so many treasures are eventually lost to the effects of time.
Did you notice the candle holder thing in the entrance of the niche with windows? It looks very much like the hearse, same castellations, same twisted rings. Part of a set perhaps?
Modern candles I'm afraid copied from the original.
I am going to subscribe to the magazine. It's 100% for me! `
Thanks Tricia, I received your order and your copy is on its way.
@@allanbarton How do I subscribe? Thank you!
Hello@@388Caroline if you go along to the website linked below there are options to set up UK, International and digital subscriptions. www.antiquarymagazine.co.uk/subscribe.html
When I was researching my family tree I did see images of my predecessors tomb images with their legs crossed over with lions at their feet. They were labeled as knights templar. Naturally from tbe description I I believed that every such tomb image would automatically mean the tomb marked the remains as that of a knights templar. Thank you for clarifying that. I used now to do as deep a study as possible on the true vocation and life of those ancestors to be sure they truly were knights templar.
The two effigies in the middle, despite having vulnerable parts to incur damage through time, are in excellent condition. Yet, coincidentally, both have their hands missing. Why is that? Is there a likely reason? Where they originally holding somthing of value - but were deliberately broken to steal whatever they held, or were they vandalised as part of some historical religious protest or just simply accidently broken? Would be interested to know what your thoughts are, thanks.
It is more likely than not accidental damage. The tomb is made of alabaster which is quite brittle and susceptible to damp damage and fracturing. Often bits get knocked off.
@@allanbarton Thanks Allan. Easy to imagine something more sinister when it involves history - when most times its just down to simply that, an accident. 👍
I wonder what the lamp stand at 07.33 was originally? It was evidently made to match the hearse and has been rather clumsily converted into an electric light fitting.
Lovely!
Thanks for making this video, Allan. Another fascinating story. That hearse is so interesting. Were the others melted down during the reformation?
I wonder if those jousting helmets were worn only at tourneys. What type of helmets did they wear on a battle field?
The little windows you saw there were likely for a type ascetic who would wall themselves up in the walls of churches.
They were called anchorites
That's an interesting suggestion. I've been pondering doing a video on anchorites and their anchorholds. I've always been rather fascinated by it as a concept and love Julian of Norwich's revelations. Somewhere on the channel is a video where I read part of them. Thanks for posting.
I went to a town where a knight named Duncan I believe had a similar crypt and there was a parchment with explanation of position of legs and things of that nature and it said legs being crossed meant they went on crusade .. was this a common myth ?
Yes, very common. It is still repeated often, but it is one of those things invented by the Victorians.
@@allanbarton Thank you
Is the Church still being used, because it's hard to tell with the plastic sheeting, etc.
Yes, but just being decorated.
Thank you
Pardon my ignorance but the significance of the dog or dogs under the feet of effigies?
Hi Allan. We are in Mexico and we are really enjoying your videos. A quick question: Presumibly all medieval churches in England were originally Catholic churches, therefore why are there no traces of the presence of confession boxes? Thanks if you have the time to answer.
Hello Ludmila - yes many of these buildings had their origin when the church was undivided and there wasn't even a Catholic church. They remained Catholic until the English Reformation when the congregations using them had to accept the religious changes. Confessional boxes were not really a thing until much later in the Catholic church - and people would make their confession kneeling in front of the priest.
@@allanbarton Thank you so much for your reply. We will continue to enjoy watching your videos and seeing your channel deservedly grow. Best of luck with this project!
I like all the dogs lying at their feet.
Occassionally you get a naughty lion that looks like a giant Teddy bear.
I imagine that the hearse would have been covered with a pall during the funeral. I've only ever seen illustrations, so thank you so much for this! Also do you think that it was used at the sepulchre in Holy Week - I think I've come across wills that speak of fabrics left for this occasion, and this seems a handy and symbolic hanger.
The coffin itself placed under the hearse would have been covered in the pall - except for really high-status burials people were buried in shrouds and would have borrowed the parish coffin. I'm not sure it would have been used as the Sepulchre, these were very often made of timber and fabric as you say and then placed on top of a table tomb or simply to the north side of the high altar.
@@allanbarton The parish coffin? Er, what? Could you please elaborate on that?
@@michaelmontagu3979 Thanks Michael. Sounds very practical. Interesting about the wool, that surely would have been a hardship for some (perhaps leading them to the use of the parish coffin?).
There appear to be rods along the top and sides (inside the castellated frame) to hold a pall.
Why does Sir John's effigy pillow look like a piggy bank, with a coin slot and removeable end of pillow, but missing?
That little space may have been a confessional before the reformation.
It could have been, it is a curious thing.
That little niche could also have been a confessional. Granted most were wood, but they might have decided to make this one out of stone. And maybe a good thing, apparently the Protestants who went around destroying churches and such didn't know what it was thus didn't bother with it.
The church is obviously still being used. I'm surprised they have not cared for the monuments better.
That lion looks very domesticated
I think maybe their feet are resting on a lion for him, and a lioness, for her. ❤️
As someone who carves funerary stone sculptures, I submit that these videos are my guilty pleasure
I think they are absolutely guilt free - I am glad you like them.
so sad our heritage is decaying.
It's really not you know.
Millions and millions of pounds from the lottery funds have found there way to many, many obscure, unknown and unnoticed projects as well as the big ticket items.
Compared to previous years (pre lottery), heritage is doing well.
I live in Hampshire, lost count of the number of churches ect. which spent decades trying to raise money for a new roof, for instance, with cake sales and fetes. That now have a spanking new roof thanks to the lottery.
It's more a matter of having somebody competent to put together a bid.
Winchester Cathedral is a good example, ok the long term issues with the underpinning are a separate matter, but the building itself is gleaming, pristine. And there is a big noticeboard telling you just how much lottery money they received.
Of course it's a separate matter when it comes to heritage being deliberately destroyed because of the current political climate. (Don't talk about lottery funds though, otherwise they'll come after that.)