Big Bird in a small (monk)Fish Pond
I’ve recently been reading and re-reading around one of my favourite themes, the dissolution of the monasteries. I actually really like monasteries, especially those that have gift shops where you can purchase things made with beeswax, and useful leatherette goods –
But, in spite of the sadness at the loss it was, especially to communities that relied on the medical services and charity some monasteries provided, and how they were the gatekeepers and producers of libraries, a lot of fascinating stories came out of that rough time. It gave C. J. Sansom great subject matter for a great murder mystery, full of cold stone, snow, and uncomfortable living.
I also stumbled across the tale of the lectern at Southwell Minster, which is a relic from Newstead Abbey (which was actually a priory, but never mind). It had been thrown into the fish pond by the monks before Henry VIII’s blokes with carts and idol-smashing hammers turned up. I can imagine them, in the pre-dawn of a (possibly) frosty morn, wrapping it in sacking, and deeply submerging it into the algae and mud, where it stayed hidden until it was dredged up over 200 years later. The globe held between the eagle’s claws contained abbey documents such as deeds, secreted there before his long dip, and were found still dry and secure when it was taken apart to be cleaned and repaired centuries later.
I read all this, and immediately googled to see a picture of this miraculous lectern that had survived such a tumultuous period below the weeds, guarded by gold fish and frogs, and, well, it’s an amazing piece of work and all, but is it just me or does it have a touch of the Jim Hensons?
Or course, it’s still beautiful and awesome, and I’m glad it has such a grand, appropriate home, especially after so many years as a really posh version of one of those little castles at the bottom of fish tanks. And actually, being compared to anything Henson-like is actually a compliment.
Lucy
Sarah
Its amazing how many things were thrown into ponds or hidden away, good job they were 🙂 I must read both of those, sounds interesting 🙂
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I adore hidden things! One of the best days ever at my mum’s house was when changing the units we found that one wall of the kitchen was fake, and from above in the roof you could see about a 2 foot gap of blackness had been hidden. It was the old wall with the big stove, and recessed cupboards with some old farm paperwork and tins and such on them. Bless those lazy builders!
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Bet that was exciting, in those days it was easier just to cover over. We lived in a 400 year old cottage many years ago, and they had straighten one of the kitchen walls like that, it was about 2 foot out from top to bottom and about 4 foot deep, made from big old stones…. miss that cottage, it was so quaint 🙂
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It does look distinctly Henson-y! Wonderful that it was saved. I have Dissolution in the TBR, I’m thinking it could be a good autumnal read?
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A great autumnal read! It’s a fast-paced, quick-ish read. Some of his other books are decidedly non-handbag friendly, but this is a good place to start, for both mind and back strain 😉
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amaxing that stuff stayed dry! so many great stories.
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They knew how to build stuff then! Nowadays I’d be chuffed to find a water bottle that doesn’t leak!
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That puts me in mind of the time when, under cover of darkness, my vicaring parents disposed of a large jade Buddha into the Thames. It belonged to a new convert, who was advised to discard all trappings of other religions for fear that they would prevent him in his Christian path. How they decided on the plan of dropping it in the London soup, I don’t know, and what harm they thought a Buddha would do, is anyone’s guess. I wonder if it’ll ever be discovered. Surely there should be some sort of fine for religious fly-tipping?
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I have a Buddha story, too! I tried to tell the Christian House clearance charity that it’s a philosophy without a god and not a religion, but they still put him in the bin, rather than take him away. Of course, I fished him out again. The fine for religious fly-tipping is probably a highly unpleasant penance, involving hair shirts or helping out with a mother and toddler groups in a damp Scout hall, maybe both at the same time 😉
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Haha, let’s hope so!
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