Winteringham Local History and Genealogy at winteringham.info

Winteringham Church Masonry in Detail


	High up on the east wall of the South Transept is this small figurine. There are several suggestions about its origins and purpose, including marking the burial of a heart (see the excerpt from Harold Dudley’s book, below) or being one of a number of figures that were originally on a tomb (click here for details)

In his book published in 1931, Harold Dudley, former Curator of Scunthorpe Museum and Art Gallery, stated:

“Within the church is a fine effigy of a cross-legged knight, circa 1300, which has come almost unscathed through the troublous times which created such havoc in most of our churches. The shield is, unfortunately, quite plain, having been originally painted, so that the identity of the knight cannot be discovered with certainty. It is very probable, however, that the figure represents one of the Marmions. It has even earned fame as being the reputed tomb of the Marmion whom Sir Walter Scott rendered so imperishable.

A curious little figure built into the east wall of the south transept has been stated to be the sign of a heart burial. In the days of the Crusaders it was the custom to bring home the heart of a gallant knight who had fallen in the wars of the Cross, and it is suggested that this stone may originally have marked the resting place of the heart of the soldier whose figure lies in the chancel.”

“... the glory of the church ...”

Of the arches in Winteringham church, Harold Dudley says in his book “The History and Antiquities of Scunthorpe and Frodingham and District” (1931): ...and its side walls are believed to have had the present arches made into them. These arches, buolt in the latter part of the twelfth century, are the glory of the church, the mouldings with which they are profusely decorated being very fine. The easternmost arch on the south side [shown in Ken’s photograph above] is a faithful copy of its three sister arches, this work being executed at the restoration in 1850.

Floriated Stones in Winteringham Church

The floriated stones in local literature

ROBERTUS AND EVA

Lines on an inscription at Winteringham church suggested by a passage in 'Between Trent and Ancholme'

The old grey church stands near the Humber side,
Its sleeping dead hushed by the lapping tide,

Three words inscribed upon a fragment small
Are built into the mossy southern wall.

Their names alone, and that is all we know
Of story lost in misty long ago.

Their very grave unmarked, their praise unsaid,
Somewhere they lie 'mid the forgotten dead.

Robert and Eva have you also seen
The neighbouring orchard flush from pink to green?

While gulls still circle o'er the new ploughed fields,
Where turbid Humber life and living yields.

And tawney sails glide by the village, still
Clear cut against the background of the hill.

You know it all; now where your footsteps trod,
You rest together 'In the lap of God.'

W.M.E.F.

The poem is on a newspaper cutting but has no date. It may be 1871 as the drawing. They were pinned together with a very rusty pin. The book mentioned is a strange book with thoughts and snippets about the area. The Fowlers lived in West Street Winterton.

Floriated stones

Of the two stones shown here (left and below, the 1912 Guide to Winteringham says:

In the south wall of the transept, outside, is inserted a stone with two incised floriated
crosses, and the words X Robertus Jones and Eva, with three other words not made out. Nothing is known as to what or who these letters refer to

Mason’s Marks in Winteringham Church

Winteringham Church has many ‘mason’s marks’. The exact reason that these were made is unclear. Whilst some people believe them to be a kind of ‘signature’ placed on the stone so that it’s mason can be identified for payment, or for blame if the work is not of sufficient quality, others suggest that it may describe the positioning of the stone, or where it was from, or the place where the stone was worked. An intriguing mystery that may be seen not only in our own church, but in many countries across Europe.

Chisel Marks in Winteringham Church

In the photo below, at least three different kinds of chisel marks are evident in adjoining stones in Winteringham Church.

Ancient ‘Graffiti’ in Winteringham Church

Winteringham graffiti artists of years gone by found time to make their mark on history in a most permanent way. But even they would hardly have expected their work to be viewed all over the world, as it may be on this page!

Have you tried the other Winteringham Websites?
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Don Burton World of Nature, Photo Archive (modern photographs of the village), What the Papers have said about Winteringham (since July 2004),
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