CAMBS/HUNTS Gallery 2

The four gargoyles above this text box, including the very weathered one in the bottom right, are all from the magnificent church of St Kyneburgha at Castor. The three photographs immediately below this text box are all from the church of St Benedict, at Glinton near Peterborough.

  This is a famous old church, with local poet John Clare immortalising the church in his poem entitled "Glinton Spire". However, it also has a certain fame as being the home of the mooning gargoyle.

  According to local legend, a stonemason was underpaid for his work on this church, and he passed a comment as to the situation by producing a gargoyle that faced a different way from the other gargoyles. The picture below shows the end result.... hands clamped on buttucks, grinning face peering upside down through the legs...and backside exposed in a line directly aimed at Peterborough Cathederal.

The first Saturday in December 2007, I did a mini Crawl of the Huntingdon area. One of the stops was at the church of St Mary at Buckden which was a delight. Some very fine gargoyles and grotesques to be found here, with the two pictures above and the six below all coming from that church. In the picture above left, just take a look at the tiny head in the bottom right hand corner which has its tongue stuck out! What exactly the "thing" is in the picture on the right, immeiately under this text box, I have no idea and in truth never wish to see one either. The pircure of the gargoyle to the left of that, with hands pulling mouth open in a typical medieval gesture, was my favourite of the day. Inside, things were even better with tea and cakes being sold. The lemon sponge was absolutely spectacular!!!!