Wednesday 4 May 2016

Cocks and knockers


I will resist temptation to go all Frankie Howerd on you, honest! These two delightful examples were found quite by chance on the same day - one in Sussex and one in Dorset. The delightful weathercock was found in a quiet corner of Chichester Cathedral. Its story an interesting one.

It was taken down from the spire in 1978 and replaced by something "modern". This one was made and erected in 1638 and it fell down, with the spire, in 1861. Restored and returned to the new spire in 1866 it remained in place until 1978 - can you imagine what tales it could tell? The indentations to the tail are supposedly from a Battle of Britain dog fight. 

It was huge by the way and I could not resist feeling it and thinking about all it had seen from its vantage point so high - there were also many inscriptions from the clergy (1638-1866) who had looked after it for so long.    



The Green Man was spotted on my evening walk when I got home. I have not seen him before, but what a pleasing door knocker he makes? I don't think he is of the same vintage as our weathercock, but a very fine piece of door furniture nonetheless. I like the way his hands cross to form the door knocker.

There you are - no Frankie Howerd and no smut!

2 comments:

The Two Terriers said...


Lovely Dickie, we saw the Green man's shadow.

John

Dickie Straker said...

I saw that TT! Absolutely brilliant, love a bit of shadowplay, ttfn Dickie