Wednesday 28 November 2012

The Green Man ...

Those who know me will know that I have an interest in the Green Man. Whenever I visit older churches and assuming I can get inside [legally] I always look out for the Green Men on the walls and arches in the church. 

Sometimes they're carved in wood as at Tideswell ...

Close up of the Green Man in Tideswell Church  

or as at Ault Hucknall, where he's sticking his tongue out ...

A walk from Hardwick Hall ~ 31st May 2009

Usually though they're carved in stone. Here's one from the cloisters of Norwich cathedral ...

The Green Man at Norwich Cathedral  

You have to look up to see him as he is in the celing looking down on those who pass below.

More locally I spotted this one, a corbel in the church at Alstonefield ...

Alstonefield and Dove Dale ~ 21st June 2010  

There are many, many more though I haven't photographed as many as I would like.

I've recently been reading Clive Hicks's book on the Green Man and on the front of the book there's a photograph he took of a Green Man in Bamberg Cathedral. This is a Green Man you ought to see if you haven't already. If you click on this link ~ http://www.clivehicks.co.uk/seeforyourself/greenman.html ~ you'll see the photograph to which I am referring.

I don't think I have ever seen such an unnerving Green Man before. It must have something to do with his eyes which appear to be staring straight at you. Or perhaps it's those lips ...

18 comments:

  1. THe link didn't work, I had to copy/paste it into my browser bar. I can see what you mean, it has got an un-nerving look, but then so does the one at Norwich cathedral, I think.

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    1. Sorry about the 'link' Mitch ~ at least you got there in the end. They can all look a bit spooky when it comes to it.

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  2. Yes that is really creepy at Bamberg,and the Norwich one isn't much better. Tideswell is my favourite of that group it is a lovely carving.Ann

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    1. I wonder how old the Tideswell carving is Ann ...

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  3. I love the green man. Totally. All shapes forms sizes. It's always a pleasure to spot him just peering out from somewhere.... unexpected. Legends of boggarts and all sorts, I love them. One of the reasons I'm so fond of England, the lore is FABULOUS.

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    1. Yes, we do have a lot of folklore don't we ... as for the Green Man I do get quite excited when I spot one too.

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  4. I think the Green Man is fascinating ... and that image on the website that you referenced is incredible! I love it!

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    1. He's almost humnan isn't he [in the photo on the website].

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  5. wow I love this blog, as a Pagan Green Man is one of my idols / Gods, whatever you want to call him, I have a lovely green man oracle card set

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    1. Thank you eevee ... Yes, I'm a big fan of the Green Man too [as you may have gathered].

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  8. sorry for the deletions, I was going to write about the church using Pagan symbolism but did not want to offend any one

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    1. You won't offend me eevee ... I'm not quite sure what my Quaker ancestors would have thought of me.

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  9. "His influence is ecological, psychological and spiritual, a valid symbol for our time."

    I lifted that quote but it made sense to me. Keep finding Green Men/Women Charlie as I watch for them here in Canada too.

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    1. I will keep on searching for more Green Men Karyn as directed. Do you find many in Canada ?

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    2. Well there was one carved in the top support of an antique armchair. Others I can't confirm because nobody seems to know what I am talking about. What I think might be a green man is just a decoration to others. There is a company in Canada that makes decorative tiles that has a Green Man one you can order for a kitchen backsplash or insert in a fireplace or bathroon tiling. Then Constance Bay holds a green man festival in honour of its red oaks. Now that you brought them to our attention they seem to pop up in strange places.

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  10. They are fascinating things.
    I think my favorite is the first... I love the leaves sprouting from his mouth.

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