Shobdon / Scepedune / Shobden / Sobbedona / Sobedon

Results: 42 records

Click to view images and/or subjects

animal - mammal - lion - head

Scene Description: the beautiful mane so reminiscent of those found in the bicorporates on Danish medieval fonts at Vester Torslev, Store Arden, Skellerup. Svenstrup, Gassum, etc.

Image Source: digital photograph taken 24 April 2018 by Michael Garlick [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5750394] [accessed 11 January 2019]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

animal - mammal - lion - passant-gardant

Scene Description: one of four lions on the base

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 19 July 2000 by BSI

animal - mammal - lion - passant-gardant

Scene Description: one of four lions on the base

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 19 July 2000 by BSI

animal - mammal - lion - passant-gardant

Scene Description: one of four lions on the base

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 19 July 2000 by BSI

information

Scene Description: Source caption: "Sign at The Arches (Shobdon)" -- it includes drawings from G.R. Lewis (1852)

Image Source: edited detail of a digital photograph taken 12 May 2018 by Fabian Musto [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5779179] [accessed 11 January 2019]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

view of base

Scene Description: Source caption: "Shobdon, St. John the Evangelist's Church: The Romanesque font by the Hereford School of Stone Carvers".

Image Source: digital photograph taken 24 April 2018 by Michael Garlick [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5750394] [accessed 11 January 2019]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

view of base

Scene Description: Source caption: "Lion detail, Romanesque font, Shobdon church. The old font has carvings of "four sinister lions" and is a good example of the work of the Herefordshire School of Sculptors who were responsible for the carvings on Kilpeck church. The font was rescued from the gardens of Shobdon Court in the early 20th century." -- traces or reddish paint are noticeable around the lion's mane

Image Source: digital photograph taken 1 August 2013 by Bob Embleton [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3582613] [accessed 11 January 2019]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

view of base - detail

Scene Description: Source caption: "Shobdon, St. John the Evangelist's Church: The Romanesque font by the Hereford School of Stone Carvers".

Image Source: digital photograph taken 24 April 2018 by Michael Garlick [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5750396] [accessed 11 January 2019]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

view of church exterior

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 19 July 2000 by BSI

view of church exterior - arch

Scene Description: arch of the former Norman church at Shobdon, set as the centre arch in the 18thC garden folly

view of church exterior - arch-head

Scene Description: arch of the former Norman church at Shobdon, set as the centre arch in the 18thC garden folly

view of church exterior - arch-head

Scene Description: arch-head from the Norman church at Shobdon, set as the left arch in the 18thC garden folly

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in George Robert Lewis. The Ancient Church of Shobdon, Herefordshire, Illustrated and Described (London: Pelham Richardson, 1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church exterior - arch-head

Scene Description: arch-head from the Norman church at Shobdon, set as the right arch in the 18thC garden folly

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in George Robert Lewis. The Ancient Church of Shobdon, Herefordshire, Illustrated and Described (London: Pelham Richardson, 1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church exterior - column - 2

Scene Description: columns from the Norman church at Shobdon, set as 1st and 2nd pillars of the left arch in the 18thC garden folly

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in George Robert Lewis. The Ancient Church of Shobdon, Herefordshire, Illustrated and Described (London: Pelham Richardson, 1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church exterior - column - 2

Scene Description: columns of the former Norman church at Shobdon, set as the 1st and 2nd pillars of the left arch in 18thC garden folly

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in George Robert Lewis. The Ancient Church of Shobdon, Herefordshire, Illustrated and Described (London: Pelham Richardson, 1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church exterior - column - 2

Scene Description: columns of the former Norman church at Shobdon, set as the 3rd and 4th pillars of the left arch in 18thC garden folly

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in George Robert Lewis. The Ancient Church of Shobdon, Herefordshire, Illustrated and Described (London: Pelham Richardson, 1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church exterior - column - 2

Scene Description: columns of the former Norman church at Shobdon, set as the 1st and 2nd pillars of the right arch in the 18thC garden folly

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in George Robert Lewis. The Ancient Church of Shobdon, Herefordshire, Illustrated and Described (London: Pelham Richardson, 1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church exterior - column - 2

Scene Description: columns of the former Norman church at Shobdon, set as the 3rd and 4th pillars of the right arch in the 18thC garden folly

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in George Robert Lewis. The Ancient Church of Shobdon, Herefordshire, Illustrated and Described (London: Pelham Richardson, 1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church exterior - tympanum

Scene Description: tympanum of the former Norman church at Shobdon, set in the left side of the 18thC garden folly

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in George Robert Lewis. The Ancient Church of Shobdon, Herefordshire, Illustrated and Described (London: Pelham Richardson, 1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church exterior - tympanum

Scene Description: tympanum of the former Norman church at Shobdon, set in the right side of the 18thC garden folly

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in George Robert Lewis. The Ancient Church of Shobdon, Herefordshire, Illustrated and Described (London: Pelham Richardson, 1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church exterior - tympanum

Scene Description: The Arches: the remains of a Norman-time church built into a garden folly in the 18thC

Image Source: edited detail of a digital photograph taken 12 May 2018 by Fabian Musto [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5779198] [accessed 11 January 2019]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

view of church exterior in context

Scene Description: The Arches: the remains of a Norman-time church built into a garden folly in the 18thC

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in George Robert Lewis. The Ancient Church of Shobdon, Herefordshire, Illustrated and Described (London: Pelham Richardson, 1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church exterior in context - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 18 April 2014 by Philip Pankhurst [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3937999] [accessed 11 January 2019]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

view of church exterior in context - detail

Scene Description: The Arches: the remains of a Norman-time church built into a garden folly in the 18thC

Image Source: edited detail of a digital photograph taken 12 May 2018 by Fabian Musto [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5779185] [accessed 11 January 2019]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

view of church exterior in context - detail

Scene Description: The Arches: the remains of a Norman-time church built into a garden folly in the 18thC

Image Source: edited detail of a digital photograph taken 12 May 2018 by Fabian Musto [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5779184] [accessed 11 January 2019]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

view of church exterior in context - detail

Scene Description: The Arches: the remains of a Norman-time church built into a garden folly in the 18thC

Image Source: edited detail of a digital photograph taken 12 May 2018 by Fabian Musto [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5779178] [accessed 11 January 2019]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

view of church exterior in context - detail

Scene Description: The Arches: the remains of a Norman-time church built into a garden folly in the 18thC

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 May 2018 by Fabian Musto [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5779195] [accessed 11 January 2019]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

view of church interior - chancel arch - column

Scene Description: 1st column of the chancel arch of the former Norman church at Shobdon, set in the 18thC garden folly

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in George Robert Lewis. The Ancient Church of Shobdon, Herefordshire, Illustrated and Described (London: Pelham Richardson, 1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church interior - chancel arch - column

Scene Description: 2nd column of the chancel arch of the former Norman church at Shobdon, set in the 18thC garden folly

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in George Robert Lewis. The Ancient Church of Shobdon, Herefordshire, Illustrated and Described (London: Pelham Richardson, 1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church interior - chancel arch - column

Scene Description: 6th column of the chancel arch of the former Norman church at Shobdon, set in the 18thC garden folly

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in George Robert Lewis. The Ancient Church of Shobdon, Herefordshire, Illustrated and Described (London: Pelham Richardson, 1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church interior - chancel arch - column

Scene Description: 5th column of the chancel arch of the former Norman church at Shobdon, set in the 18thC garden folly

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in George Robert Lewis. The Ancient Church of Shobdon, Herefordshire, Illustrated and Described (London: Pelham Richardson, 1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church interior - nave - looking east

Scene Description: the mid-18thC church

Image Source: digital photograph taken 12 May 2018 by Fabian Musto [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5779072] [accessed 11 January 2019]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

view of church interior - nave - looking west

Scene Description: Source caption: "The nave of St John the Evangelists church, Shobdon. The church was built in 1752-56 for the Hon. Richard Batteman of Shobdon. He was a friend of Horace Walpole and the influence of Strawberry Hill can be seen here. Entering this church is quite an experience, nothing outside hints at what is inside. Simon Jenkins in his book 'England's Thousand Best Churches' describes it was 'wedding cake rococo'. This is certainly an unusual church, built at a time classical styles were fashionable and Gothic was rare."

Image Source: digital photograph taken 23 May 2018 by Philip Halling [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5788579] [accessed 11 January 2019]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

view of font

Scene Description: it is very unlikely that the font looked like this when Lewis saw it in Shobdon

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in George Robert Lewis. The Ancient Church of Shobdon, Herefordshire, Illustrated and Described (London: Pelham Richardson, 1852)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of font

Scene Description: Source caption: "Shobdon, St. John the Evangelist's Church: The Romanesque font by the Hereford School of Stone Carvers".

Image Source: digital photograph taken 24 April 2018 by Michael Garlick [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5750387] [accessed 11 January 2019]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

view of font

Image Source: digital photograph taken 23 May 2018 by Philip Halling [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5788579] [accessed 11 January 2019]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

view of font

Image Source: Herefordshire (1931-1934, vol. III: pl. 54)

Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE -- IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

view of font

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 19 July 2000 by BSI

view of font and cover

Scene Description: Source caption: "Shobdon, St. John the Evangelist's Church: The Romanesque font by the Hereford School of Stone Carvers".

Image Source: digital photograph taken 24 April 2018 by Michael Garlick [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5750399] [accessed 11 January 2019]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

view of font and cover

Image Source: edited detail of a digital photograph taken 12 May 2018 by Fabian Musto [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5777305] [accessed 11 January 2019]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

view of font and cover in context

Scene Description: Source caption: "Norman font, St John the Evangelist, Shobdon. In the side chapel beyond there is a fireplace to keep the lord and his family warm".

Image Source: digital photograph taken 29 November 2014 by David Smith [www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4274379] [accessed 11 January 2019]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

view of font in context

Scene Description: the old font while it was still used as part of The Arches folly, out in the open, exposed to the elements, covered in lichen, ca. 1908; at a later date the font would be moved to the churchyard and, eventually, cleaned up and restored to the interior of the new church

Image Source: digital image of a B&W photograph in Bond (1908: 54)

Copyright Instructions: PD

INFORMATION

FontID: 00326SHO

Church/Chapel: Parish Church of St. John the Evangelist

Church Patron Saints: St. John the Evangelist

Church Location: 5 Shobdon Court Mews, Shobdon, Leominster HR6 9LZ, UK -- Tel.: +44 1568 708360

Country Name: England

Location: Herefordshire, West Midlands

Directions to Site: Located off (N) the B4362, about 10-12 km WNW of Leominster, 25 km NNW of Hereford.

Ecclesiastic Region: Diocese of Herefordshire

Historical Region: Hundred of Hezetre

Font Location in Church: Inside the church, in the nave, West end

Date: 1165?

Century and Period: 12th century (mid?), Norman

Church Notes: church re-built 14thC; present church built by Richard Bentley in the mid-1700s for the Bateman family.

Font Notes: Click to view font notes

There is an entry for Shobdon [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [https://opendomesday.org/place/SO4062/shobdon/] [accessed 10 January 2019] but it mentions neither cleric nor church in it. In his 1852 book on the remains of the old Norman church set up as a garden folly, Lewis writes: "The Font on the title-page has four animals at its base, intended to be supporters of the bowl; it is much mutilated, and as regards the sculpture, the four animals are all that is left; being intended, most probably, to symbolize the Evangelists -- supporting the Rite of Baptism." [cf. infra] Cox & Harvey (1907: 201) report inaccurately of a baptismal font of the Norman period here, "supported by the four Evangelistic symbols", probably following on Lewis comment [cf. supra]. Bond (1908: 54) shows a photograph of ca. 1908 with the font fragment standing in what appears to be the churchyard, the surface of the stone much eroded and infested with lichens [Bond (ibid., p. 181n) states in a footnote that "this church was pulled down and converted into an artificial 'ruin' by the local squire to adorn his park". On-site notes: the font is now [July 2000] inside the church, the stone surfaces have been cleaned and polished and the fragment remounted on a new lower base and plinth. It is not known whether or not the now plain basin sides ever had any ornamentation. The base has four beautiful lions "in the Norman style" [the church guide appears to imply that the font is a remain of the old Norman church]. Discussed in Thurlby in the context of the Herefordshire School works. Jenkins (1999) describes it as Norman with a crude lion on its base, "and lurks like Caliban at the court of Milan", witty but inaccurate, as there are four such lions on it. Hutton (1957) dates the font precisely to 1165 but does not give the source of the precise date. Not dated in Tyrrell-Green (1928: 63-64), who describes the lions as being "of highly conventional form". The inventory of the Royal Commission (1931-1934, vol. III: p. 179) dates it to the mid 12th century. There is a 19th century octagonal pedestal font near the altar being used for baptisms [not listed in this Index]. The 18 February 1950 issue of 'Notes and Queries' section on Memorabilia comments of the baptismal fonts from Shobdon: "The first Viscount Bateman, who was of the school of Strawberry Hill, rebuilt the church in Mousetrap Gothick in 1752, and the splendid Norman font became an ornament in his garden. In 1850 its Georgian successor was found to be decorated with what were supposed to be highly inappropriate Bacchantes, and was also banished to the grounds of Shobdon Court, its place being taken by a new font purchased by subscription. A few years ago the Norman font (which had meanwhile got back as far as the churchyard) was restored to its rightful place, while the Victorian font took its place among the graves. With due respect to all concerned, one would think that neither garden nor graveyard was a fitting place for a font, even disused or inappropriately decorated." The entry for this church in Historic England [Listing NGR: SO4011462844] notes: "Parish church. Probably C14, rebuilt 1752 - 1756 for Richard Bateman. [...] Font in crossing is C12 with four lions around the column supporting a simple bowl. Hereford school style carving. C18 font in north aisle has an octagonal bowl on an octagonal pier and moulded plinth. C12 arches and tympanum were relocated in C18 to form the Shobdon arches [...]. This church is an outstanding example of the Gothick style."

COORDINATES

Church Latitude & Longitude Decimal: 52.2605, -2.8788

Church Latitude & Longitude DMS: 52° 15′ 37.8″ N, 2° 52′ 43.68″ W

UTM: 30U 508272 5790019

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone, sandstone (grey)

Number of Pieces: one

Font Shape: hemispheric (mounted)

Basin Interior Shape: round

Basin Exterior Shape: round

Drainage Notes: only a fragment of basin and the upper base remain

Rim Thickness: 12 cm*

Diameter (inside rim): 68 cm*

Diameter (includes rim): 94 cm*

Basin Depth: 29 cm*

Font Height (less Plinth): 80 cm*

Font Height (with Plinth): 90 cm*

Notes on Measurements: * BSI on-site [NB: all measurements are of the fragment remains]

LID INFORMATION

Date: modern

Material: wood, oak?

Apparatus: no

Notes: round, with metal decoration and ring handle; appears modern

REFERENCES

Bond, Francis, Fonts and Font Covers, London: Waterstone, 1985 c1908

Cox, John Charles, English Church Furniture, New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., 1907

Crossley, Frederick Herbert, English Church Craftsmanship: an Introduction to the Work of the Mediaval Period and Some Account of Later Developments, London: B.T. Batsford, 1941

Great Britain. Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Herefordshire, London: H.M. Stationary Office, 1931-1934

Hutton, Graham, English Parish Churches, London: Thames & Hudson, 1976

Jenkins, Simon, England's Thousand Best Churches, London and New York: Allen Lane, the Penguin Press, 1999 [2000 rev. printing]

Lewis, George Robert, The Ancient Church of Shobdon, Herefordshire, Illustrated and Described, London: Pelham Richardson, 1852

Thurlby, Malcolm, The Herefordshire School of Romanesque Sculpture, Logaston, Herefs.: Logaston Press, 1999

Tyrrell-Green, E., Baptismal Fonts Classified and Illustrated, London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge: The Macmillan Co., 1928