Easton On The Hill. CHURCH : ALL SAINTS

The first Monday of a cycling tour of South Lincolnshire and a bit of Northamptonshire. The Sun was blazing down, escaping the rat race for a time, and all was well...well it would have been if there hadn't been quite so much uphill thus far that day! I had made an early start and visited Duddington, Tixover, Barrowden, Wakerley and Collyweston earlier on, and continued making my way towards Stamford with a visit to Easton On The Hill.

  I have to admit that I thought that Easton On The Hill was in Lincolnshire, but the internet assures me that it is tucked just inside the Northamptonshire border. In keeping with most of the remainder of my holiday I lost my way when in the village and got to the church via a narrow lane, and a dirt track that bypassed some allotments. I am sure that there is a better way than that! Mind you, my sense of direction is such that 24 hours later I went three miles completely the wrong direction whilst looking for Threekingham. It has crossed my mind from time to time whether this web site was an ideal choice for me given that I have no sense of direction at all!

  All Saints reminded me of neighbouring Collyweston. It was similar also in that it was equally difficultto get a clear shot of, both churches being surrounded by trees.

  A couple of unusual garves caught my eye in the well maintained church grounds. One was worth noting purely for age, this was the grave of Mary, the wife of Rich Michel, and was dated 1642. This would go down as one of the earliest dated graves that I have seen in any church grounds. Very good condition as well given the age.

  The second was unusual as the carving was a variation on the theme of man's mortality that I had not seen before. A grave with a skull on, with crossed bones behind, is nothing unusual. However, this one had two cherubs, one on either side of the skull, lifting a crown on to the skull. Very unusual, beautifully carved. A gorgeous piece of work.

  This church was open and inside it was very peaceful and calm. Lighting conditions were ideal as the sun blazed in through the South windows. For me though, the highlight of this church were the gargoyles that surrounded the tower, with one in particular catching my eye!

Those who know me will know of my love of gargoyles and grotesques. I daresay that everyone who photographs churches has their own particular likes and these just happen to be mine. Two nice examples can be found below right, but the "Mooning" gargoyle pictured top right made and day, and was one of my most favourite things photographed in any of the 56 churches visited during my churchcrawl.

  Mooning gargoyles are not unheard of, and I found another, far inferior, example later on in my travels in South Lincolnshire. There is another one just a few miles away at Glinton. The story behind that one is that a stonemason was underpaid for his work and he expressed his disgust by reversing the last in a row of gargoyles, so that it exposed his buttucks in a line aimed directly at Peterborough Cathedral. That's the story. It might be an urban myth, but if it is it is a funny urban myth!

  The one at Glinton is quite low to the ground. This one was high up on the tower and I couldn't see it with the naked eye. It was only when I had photographed all of the gargoyles at full magnification, and then looked at them a few minutes later whilst taking a few minutes break, that I realised what I had.

  Gargoyle bent over, with hole in bum where the water spout once would have gone, hands clenched on buttucks, and one or two other things on show that I couldn't possibly comment on! Gargoyles and grotesques are sometimes said to represent local dignitaries or personalities....I take it that this is not the case here!!

  The fact that I couldn't see the details with the naked eye does lead me to think that in days long gone, a stonemason with a sense of humour decided to carve this and there it has stood, high up on the tower, exposing his backside at all who enter the church to this day! Super stuff!

  Back on the cycle and I continued my long and meandering journey to Bourne with Great Casterton being the next stopping point.