Irnham. CHURCH : ST ANDREW

I am not sure if the village of Irnham lies perpetually under a blanket of cloud. The reason I ask is that I have visited this church twice and both times lighting conditions have been apalling due to low cloud. On both occasions visited, the cloud has lifted within a little while of leaving the village, and there has been bright sunshine for most of the rest of the day both times. Lots of gargoyles here, but would very much liked to have seen them in better conditions!

  Gargoyles and grotesques on churches can be a strange mix sometimes. All from different ages, with different stonemasons, producing different styles of work. For examples of this just look at the page created for Heckington. At Irnham though, there is a theme to the gargoyles on display. The gargoyles appear to be wearing face protectors and seem to be wearing chain mail. All, that is, except the one pictured top left, who is wearing a crown. We therefore appear to have a King, and his soldiers, standing proudly along the north and south walls of the church, as well as on the tower.

  The ones on the tower looked to me to be older, and they are more worn. That may just be though that the ones on high are more exposed to the elements! As this church was massively restored though in Victorian times, the thought did cross my mind that the gargoyles on the north and south walls might have been carved at that time, and designed so as to be of a similar style as the existing carvings on the tower! Of course, this may be total rubbish.....!!

  This church is normally open for visitors, and is well worth a look around. Nice village, super church, glorious gargoyles, terrible cloud cover!!!

The two gargoyles immediately above were from high up on the tower. Lighting conditions were especally poor when attempting to take these so apologies for the poor quality.