Extraordinary Angel Roofs Of England

The roof angels in this church are beautifully set off by timber fan vaulting in a breathtaking display of carpentry thought to date from around 1430 when the church was built.

Extraordinary angel roofs of england.

Visible from long distances across the salt marshes blythburgh church resembles a great ship that has somehow been washed up in a storm from nearby southwold. Stunning angel roofs in norfolk churches. Its walls were several metres thick and supported a roof of great stone slabs. Nowhere outside england can be found such a series of magnificent timber roofs as those of which westminster hall and the angel roofs of east anglia are examples lf salzman building in england 1952.

Medieval angel roofs timber structures with spectacular and ornate carvings of angels with a peculiar preponderance in east anglia were simply too difficult for reformation iconoclasts to reach. Almost 600 years ago a church roof full of angels hovering benevolently over the congregation must have been a comforting reminder of the heaven they hoped awaited them. To the 21st century visitor they are a source of wonder and among our finest treasures. 10 extraordinary sacred sites around britain.

St peter mancroft which dates to between 1430 and 1455 is one of them. Looking at the history of this site we find those c7 warrior kings of ancient england popping their heads up again. England s second largest city in the 15th century norwich has no fewer than five angel roofs. The best attempt at a comprehensive list which i have seen is that of dr dana bentley cranch in roof angels of the east anglian churches see bibliography but even this has several omissions and includes some churches which do not actually have angel roofs.

It has been estimated that over 90 of england s figurative medieval art was obliterated in the image destruction of the reformation. The royal geographic society s exhibition britain from the air displays aerial photographs of the uk s extraordinary landscapes. Establishing the total number of surviving angel roofs in england and wales is not straightforward. There is no definitive register.

Feb 21 2018 explore alicia todaro s board angel roof on pinterest. Norwich was once the largest city in england after london its affluence reflected in the angel roof at st peter mancroft right in the heart of the city close to city hall.