The Little Green Man and a Crusader

Tucked away around the corner there lives a little green man. 
He's not much to look at these days, decidedly weatherbeaten and worn...

but that's because he dates from the 16th century and was originally part of an arch in the  gatehouse to the (now demolished) manor house of a neighbouring village.   

The green man, the dovecote and the great hall are all that remain.

A green man is a representation of a face with vegetation spouting from nostrils, eyes, etc.     They are often to be found in churches, although people think of them as a pagan symbol of fertility, a nature spirit.   

As this carving was part of the entrance to an important manor house, many people of note will have been caught in his stern gaze.    I always think he looks poised and ready to dish out a beating.

(This is the same green man which has been made into a beautiful work of raised embroidery by a woman of 90+ years of age.    I can't wait to see what she has made of him.)

Just beyond this building there is a bubbling spring, the source of a chalk stream river which meanders  through our villages.  Crystal clear water which bubbles up out of the ground.    I often think about the many people who had to come to collect their daily water from here.        The little bridge is tiny, a narrow footbridge no more than two or three feet above the water.

Just around the corner is this lovely little church.   It was built around 1320, but was restored in 1867.  There was a much earlier church on the site.

Alas!   the door was locked - something which I have only found once before, and that was on the day of my granddaughter's christening!   

The vicar didn't have a key, the churchwardens were both away - so we had a very simple service out in the churchyard.    It was actually much nicer than normal, we were out in the sunshine, the birds sang and everyone was relaxed and comfortable outdoors.

My mission today was to photograph the crusader, the one I mentioned a couple of days ago.    I have been spending some time trying to decipher the difficult handwriting on the letter I was given..

this is a tiny sample, there are two full pages.    Just to make life more interesting, it has been ripped to pieces and then stuck together again, many years ago.    The writing is fading, some words have been half lost in the tears...    I'm getting there, but it isn't easy.

The 'letter' is a poem, written to request that the crusader be moved to a more suitable location. 

 From the condition of him, I would think that he had been left outside for quite some time.    These days he slumbers in a corner, just to the left of this lovely old door.

I had intended taking off my boots and coat, leaving Toby to look after them for me while I went inside to take a better photograph of the effigy.    It wasn't to be.    Luckily I have some old photographs of the poor chap.

As you can see, he has suffered over the centuries.   The two angels holding his pillow have lost their heads, his nose has all but disappeared and his leg has has been broken!

His monument was found on the site of a Cistercian Priory.    The priory was founded before 1153 but little is known about it.   I can tell you that before Michaelmas, 1536,  the priory was dissolved and the ten nuns who lived there were paid off, sent back home or cast adrift.

Nothing remains of the priory now except this monument and a few documents.

He is in terrible condition, compared to some of the wonderful ones I have seen.   Such a shame, but at least he is indoors now.