Culture, General Things, Architecture, Architectural Detail, Tympanum
Tympanum is in Architectural Detail.
Tympanum. A semi-circular, or triangular, decorative wall surface over an entrance, door or window, which is bounded by a lintel and an arch.
St Peter's Church, Rowlestone [Map]. Tympanum of the Herefordshire School of Carving.
St Mary's Church, Fownhope [Map]. Fine tympanum of the Herefordshire School of Carving.
St Nicholas' Church, Little Langford [Map]. Fine tympanum from the Herefordshire School of Carving.
St Michael's Church, Houghton le Spring [Map]. The church dates from the 12C but during recent renovations the foundations of an earlier Anglo-Saxon church were discovered. Many Saxon post holders were found. Below the Saxon church were found some Roman foundations, possibly from a temple and boulders from an early prehistoric burial cairn or ritual site. A carved tympanum (which probably predates the church) features intertwined beasts. It is known as ‘The Houghton Beasts or Dragons’. See Herefordshire School of Carving.
St Mary's Church, Stottesdon [Map]. Fine tympanum of the Herefordshire School of Carving.
St Mary's Church, Halford [Map]. A 12th century church extended in the 13th century. The Norman tympanum of the Herefordshire School of Carving over the north door is particularly noteworthy.
St John the Baptist Church, Beckford [Map]. Fine Tympanum showing Harrowing of Hell. Possibly Herefordshire School of Carving.
St Gregory's Church, Castlemorton [Map]. The C12 doorway has a round arch with zig-zag ornament, and angle shafts with scalloped capitals: The tympanum is carved with the Agnus Dei.To Do List.
St John's Church, Shobdon [Map].When the 18th-century church was built, the original Romanesque chancel arch was carefully removed and reassembled on the hill overlooking the church. This was linked to two carved doorways with their tympana to create an unusual folly, or eyecatcher. Though somewhat eroded by wind and weather, the arches feature exquisitely detailed Norman carving.
St Leonard's Church, Ribbesford [Map]. Herefordshire School of Carving tympanum. Archer aiming at what appears to be a bird with dog beneath. The description 'bird' somewhat difficult. Others call it a 'fishlike monster'. The capitals are carved with large bird pecking small bird, intertwined knots, and snakes.
Around 1150. Church of our Lady Seaton Delaval [Map]. Arched tympanum with head, probably from Tree of Life design. Arch above with zigzag and chamfered hood. In sanctuary C14 effigies of cross-legged knight, probably Sir Hugh Delaval, and late C14 or early C15 lady, on moulded plinths. 6 large C18 or early C19 hatchments of Delavals and Astleys in nave.
The Herefordshire School of Carving at St Giles' Church, Pipe Aston [Map]. Tympanum over the North doorway. An "agnus dei" - Lamb of God - flanked by a winged eagle and a winged bull surrounded byan archivolt of animals and foliage enclosed within a chevroned arch. The church guide describes the eagle as the emblem of St John complementing the winged bull emblem of St Luke which has at the end of one of its forelegs a block that is assumed to be St Luke’s Gospel. Malcolm Thurlby, in this excellent book "The Herefordshire School of Romanesque Sculpture" suggest the carving is of a griffin. The imposts at the end of the arches have, on the left, dragons entwined, and, on the right, foliage. See Herefordshire School of Carving.
Around 1573. Church of the Holy Trinity, Bosbury [Map]. Monument to John Harford died 1559. Large recessed wall Elizabethan Period monument commemorating John Harford died 1559, signed by John Guldo of Hereford: 'JOHN GULDO of Hereford made this tombe w. his owne hande Ano. Dn. 1573. Pedimented surround with Corinthian columns on tall bases, semi-circular head to arched recess with Ionic capitals to pilasters, recumbent effigy in civil costume on sarcophagus supported by two lions, the whole enriched with rosettes in spandrels and large leaves and rounded in tympanum, shell motif and three panels with vases and two shields and an achievement of arms at back of recess.
On 03 Sep 1634 Edward Coke (age 82) died. Monument in Church of St Mary the Virgin, Tittleshall [Map]. Simple sarcophagus on pedestal with lying effigy. Pair of flanking Tuscan columns supporting a full entablature with putti on frieze and broken segmental pediment. Carved and painted achievement in and above tympanum flanked by four reclining figures of the Virtues on pediment extrados.
Above. Quarterly of eight: Coke Arms, Crispin, Folkard, Sparham, Nerford, Yarmouth, 
Knightley Arms and Pawe. The crest is broken. Farrer says it was: On a chapeau Azure, turned up Ermine, an ostrich Argent, holding in its mouth a horseshoe Or. The motto reads Prudens qui Patiens.
The effigy was carved by John Hargrave, the rest of the memorial was made by Nicholas Stone (age 47).
Below the effigy are three shields. Left Coke Arms implaling 
Paston Arms. His first wife Bridget Paston. Middle Coke Arms. Right Coke Arms impaling 
Cecil Arms; his second wife Elizabeth Cecil Countess Berkshire (age 38).
Bridget Paston: she was born to John Paston. On 13 Aug 1582 Edward Coke and she were married. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
Evelyn's Diary. 18 Apr 1680. On the earnest invitation of the Earl of Essex (age 48), I went with him to his house at Cashiobury, in Hertfordshire. It was on Sunday, but going early from his house in the square of St. James, we arrived by ten o'clock; this he thought too late to go to church, and we had prayers in his chapel. The house is new, a plain fabric, built by my friend, Mr. Hugh May (age 58). There are divers fair and good rooms, and excellent carving by Gibbons, especially the chimney-piece of the library. There is in the porch, or entrance, a painting by Verrio, of Apollo and the Liberal Arts. One room pargeted with yew, which I liked well. Some of the chimney mantels are of Irish marble, brought by my Lord from Ireland, when he was Lord-Lieutenant, and not much inferior to Italian. The tympanum, or gable, at the front is a bass-relievo of Diana hunting, cut in Portland stone, handsomely enough. I do not approve of the middle doors being round: but, when the hall is finished as designed, it being an oval with a cupola, together with the other wing, it will be a very noble palace. The library is large, and very nobly furnished, and all the books are richly bound and gilded; but there are no MSS., except the Parliament Rolls and Journals, the transcribing and binding of which cost him, as he assured me, £500.
The church has a Jacobean memorial to James Harington and his wife facing each other, praying in a kneeling position. Over the vestry door in the south aisle, is a Norman tympanum.