Thursday 30 June 2011

Door without purpose.

In the nearby village of Earls Barton is a very nice church, and it is the sort of thing I like to take Photo's of. Recently, while looking at some photo's, I noticed what looked like a door halfway up the tower close to the clock. I wondered if it was there to provide access to the clock, but that made no sense. Then I thought that maybe it wasn't a door but a shuttered window of sorts ... but it looks like a door. Intrigued, I made some enquiries and what I discovered is quite interesting.

This church is famous for its mixture of architectures dating back to c970 a.d. Apparently, it started life as nothing more than a keep (tower) and it was used as a place of refuge by local peasants to escape marauding bands of Vikings who sailed down the River Nene. At times of danger, the locals would climb a ladder to the keep and then pull the ladder up behind them. There was a small church close to the tower and many successive modifications to the church eventually brought the two buildings together. At one time, the local priest was known to give his sermons from the doorway to his congregation below. Architecture from every century from the tenth onwards is represented in the fabric of the church.

I understand that the door we can see today is the original door and now I know why it's there it no longer seems so pointless. Any one who likes to look at old buildings, especially churches, should put this one on their 'must see' list.

9 comments:

  1. What a wondeful story John and a very nice recorded memory of it in your painting too. So much nicer than a photo I think. I love reading about the Dark Ages and consider it to be the true history of Britain! I'd like to think I'm a Celt through and through!

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  2. Fascinating story John and nicely illustrated, though I would like to have seen more of the tower. Now I'm left wondering what the rest of it looks like?

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  3. John, I too like the story, and your painting is so well done...
    Your an excellent pencil artist but I must say your watercolors are right up there too. ! BJ

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  4. That's an interesting story John. What a pity that the people who installed the clock didn't have more respect for the history of the building. Your painting of the clock-face is superb though.

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  5. Thank you Michael, and I agree with you about the Dark Ages.

    Frank, I painted this church when I was just starting out with watercolours and my effort can be seen on the Northampton page of my web site. The lack of dark tones in my early work is embarrassing - LOL. Time for me to do it again I think. Thanks for the comment.

    Barbra Joan, you're very kind, thank you.

    Thank you Keith, I couldn't agree more about the installation of the clock.

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  6. This is fascinating! And how well you have painted it too :0)

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  7. Loved the history behind this painting. So glad I came over - and am now going to become a follower :) xx

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  8. Oh, that's wonderful Pat. Thank you very much. ;-)

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