Grimston's Medieval Carvings
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Grimston
Choir
The earliest churches in England had no fixed congregational seating. In a limited number of churches, there were stone benches running around the north, south and west walls, or even around the pillars. The weakest people would therefore have gone to the wall, and the remainder either stood or sat on mats or stools.
The normal pews date back to 1845 with poppy head carvings. The poppy head is not named for the (The figure on the right shows just why they were originally "poupee" or dolls. This carving can be found in the Chancel of another of our Churches -St Mary, Great Massingham. ) Some of the pews at St Botolph's though date to the 15th century and have a fabulous array of bench and pew carvings. Because literacy was low in many rural areas of the country in those days, other means besides literature were needed to instruct the "common man" in religious matters. This was the case for these carvings and, of course, for stained glass windows. Perhaps because St Botolph is the patron Saint of Wayfarers, there are the most wonderful carvings from far away places and mythical creatures. These include various birds and animals but also the man in the stocks - perhaps for stealing a pig, and the liar having his tongue pulled out & a "Dog with a Goose."
In the Chancel, you will find some fine carvings under the misericords (the tip up seats that make standing a little less tiring). Four are from the medieval period, whilst the moustachioed man is a Victorian replacement and one was carved in 2006 by Norman Kershaw of Anglesey, copying a Grimstonware pottery face from the 14th century.
(The mug opposite is ©Trustees of the British Museum. It shows a very typical mug with a humorous face and typical green glaze. Grimston is best-known for its face jugs, a popular form in medieval Britain. These jugs were decorated with applied pellets and strips on the body, and applied bearded faces and arms on the neck and rim. Most are dated to the 13th and 14th centuries.)
The second set of Choir stalls are Victorian, when a smoother surface could be produced on the ledges. The late 19th century carvings feature the lion of St Mark, the bull of St Luke, the eagle of St John and the angel/messenger of St Matthew. The medieval stalls feature a lion, a poor man, a dragon and a mermaid. Here then are more of our most treasured carvings: ( If you like these, then also look at the carvings found at St Lawrence, Harpley. Click here)
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