iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sorry - really thought this one was fantastic

120

Whole thing. Well worth seeing but call up church ahead of visit. It’s under the tower and normally covered with a curtain (which you can’t move)!

121

A seraph bears a six-pointed star - the central panel of Karl Parsons’ fine west window at St Laurence’s, Ansley (Warks.) Dated 1930

1101

Unusual little object in the south porch at Much Dewchurch Three-strand interlace pattern and carved on both sides. But what is it? Malcolm Thurlby think a c12 grave marker. Very rare survival if so

274

I’ve always thought one of those would look decent in the study… a few years ago I bought a nice panel of Heaton Butler Bayne glass from an auction & I still haven’t been fully forgiven by my family!

010

Superb rainwater heads too - what an enjoyable little building!

cornucopias or cornucopiae?

100

There is a figure at the top of the building - Philosophy?

101

Also, I don’t think Andy Foster is seeing things when he detects a whiff of the Laurentian Library inside! esp. the staircase

Arts figure with book and pen

Science with scroll and globe

Dudley Public Library of 1908-9 Allegorical figures of Science and the Arts recline on a broken pediment - positively Michelangelesque! (à la the Medici tombs) Architect was George H Wenyon Sculptors probably HH Martyn & Co

221

St George and the dragon by William Bloye on Dudley Town Hall (War Memorial Tower) - late 1920s

021

A larger version by the same workshop: Stretton Sugwas tympanum, about 15 miles to the south

030

Jim Hellyer @jshellyer.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Interlocking two-strand circles on the c12 capital of the west doorway at Leominster Priory For a bonus point - can you spot Samson and the lion?

162

fine surprise in the suburbs of Dudley - a mid-12th century tympanum at St Peter, Pedmore Christ in Majesty surrounded by the Evangelists. St Matthew holds the mandorla in place (top-right) a rather far-flung example of the Herefordshire school of carving

062

Jim Hellyer @jshellyer.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Minton tiles around the font at Holy Trinity, Hartshill (Stoke-on-Trent)

0102

Jim Hellyer @jshellyer.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Come across the standard ones reasonably often, such as below at Rodington, Shropshire I don’t think I’ve ever seen the deluxe top of the line gold version anywhere else!

Jim Hellyer @jshellyer.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

These are lovely aren’t they? I still remember them from a visit years ago You may well already know but many of the designs here are copies of the c13 ones at Westminster Abbey Chapter House (good article here: www.penn.museum/sites/journa...)

220

Jim Hellyer @jshellyer.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Yes, they’re a nice survival, aren’t they? There are a few photos of it before the reordering & they can be seen I didn’t know it when visiting North Walsham, but the large arch at the east end is a motif that Bower Norris seems rather keen on Heswall and Wolverhampton

Yes! Did you know those books on the bollards spin around? I didn’t, but last time I was there my 6 year old son discovered it and we couldn’t leave for about half an hour

120

I thought this was just fantastic, I have to say A sort of cross between Adrian Gilbert Scott (e.g. Poplar) & F X Velarde. Interior a lovely warm cream colour due to unpainted render I think the best I’ve ever seen by him (and that includes Rochdale)

030

Now to Bower Norris’s much later St John Fisher, West Heath - 1964 énorme!

150

Some more! Station(s) of the cross by Benjamin Creswick, dated 1920-9

Now that’s more like it! felt much more cavernous than this photo makes it look (mural of Resurrection in apse by Neil Harvey, 2000 - I quite liked it)

130

Our Lady & St Brigid, Northfield by Bower Norris - 1936 A sort of minimalist Italian Romanesque (with a striking campanile) a very squeezed site but still a winner

151

Got in too. Quite plain but nice original ceiling. A little disappointing as some of his interiors can be tip-top. The ailes added in the 60s, apparently by Sandy & Norris (according to Taking Stock). Surprising

140

Jim Hellyer @jshellyer.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

A fine day to go out hunting some Ernest Bower Norris churches in the Black Country Holy Name of Jesus, Great Barr - 1938 typical sharp Art Deco detailing at the west end (which faces the busy Birmingham Road) reminds one of his slightly earlier church at North Walsham

4120

Good isn’t it? I was expecting it to look totally daft inside, but in fact it’s a rather theatrical c18 arrangement where just the IHS monogram in the reredos is backlit

Jim Hellyer @jshellyer.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Might be the smallest east window I’ve ever seen - St Laurence, Ansley (Chancel extended by John Ludford in 1760)

152

Jim Hellyer @jshellyer.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

out looking at Morris & Co. glass in Leicestershire today….

000

Reposted by Jim Hellyer

CathyLoweBerkshire @cathylowe.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

@jshellyer.bsky.social Sherborne cemetery harboured a decaying gem: the Digby Mausoleum, shown in the London Exhibition of 1862. Built by George Wingfield Digby for his family. The wide pointed entrance arch is a tour de force; in the tympanum a relief of the Lord's Resurrection by Redfern. 1/2

41297

I’m off to Edinburgh in July so I’ll hope for decent light! think we spoke about it on here, but I visited St Mark’s, Broomhill on an unusually gloomy day. May I present, John Piper:

130

John Vigar FSA @johnevigar.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

He brilliant, isn’t he? one of the best early c20 stained glass artists for me (& there is some v stiff competition!) If you’re ever in Hertfordshire may I heartily recommend a visit to Waterford. Full of glass wonderful glass by Burne-Jones, Douglas Strachan & this St Cecilia by Parsons

010

Reposted by Jim Hellyer

Walsingham Bridewell, Norfolk #adoorablethursday

0223

that perspex stuff can look dead ugly from the outside but I was thankful for it when visiting Catshill, Worcs recently to see the Karl Parsons work there. It was a sunny day so I was terrified of encountering the rectangles of doom but window was thankfully protected by clear plastic

241