11 go adventuring in Somerset

 

It was a great turn out (11 in attendance) on Wednesday the 29th for July's St John's team summer outing to St Michael's church, Clapton-in-Gordano and Clevedon Court. 
Just to re-cap, the purpose of the excursions is to glean inspiration from other heritage sites interpretation and to have a jolly good bit of "team bonding" too. 
Things got off to a rocky start in a delayed arrival at Clapton (beware all, Wednesday is bin day in Bedminster!) but we were given an incredibly warm welcome by CCT volunteer and member of the Friends of St Michael's church, David Hounsell. 
David very succinctly talked us through the most interesting aspects of this medieval church perched inconspicuously underneath the M4 motorway over looking the industrial sprawl of Portishead, church including:

• The 12th-century tympanum: the oldest visible part of the church. 
•  13th century screen, reredos and benches.
• a curious 14th century font.
• a grand late 1692 century monument showing the kneeling figures of Edmund Wynter and his wife.

Emma also pointed out the work that the CCT has carried out recently under the supervision of Dr Neil Rushton in uncovering traces an unusual 16th century wall painting,The wall painting features a text from the book of Galatians (chapter 3 verse 19) surrounded by an ornate architectural border has been partially uncovered. The border comprises of columns and a plinth which extends from floor level, but the full height has not survived. In addition, limewash layers have been consolidated, large voids filled, impervious paint has been removed, and lime replacements made to the wall base.

CCT policy is not to uncover wall paintings unless they are at risk of being damaged if not uncovered, as was the case due to damp at Clapton. The work was  carried out in 2013 / 14 and has led on to the Friends group raising money to pay for the installation of a glass screen so the side chapel can be separately heated, which helps with the damp but also allows the space to be used as a meeting room. 

A quick sandwich lunch and then back in the van and off to Clevedon Court, where Elizabeth had informed me that that there was an interesting painting featuring some historical characters familiar to us all at St John's. 

This crowded historical scene shows a funeral procession in front of St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol. Canynge (c.1399–1474), a rich English merchant, MP and five times Mayor of Bristol, must have been a popular man. He rebuilt St Mary Redcliffe and, having taken holy orders in 1469 after the death of his wife, became Dean of the College of Westbury. The painting apparently includes (anachronistically) the local poets Robert Southey (1774–1843) and Thomas Chatterton (1752–1770). The latter is holding a lute. Chatterton, using the pseudonym 'Thomas Rowley' (which often arises suspicions in St John's Crypt!) and in the guise of a fifteenth-century poet, wrote the following:

"Payncters and carvellers have gaind good name, But there's a Canynge, to encrease the store, A Canynge, who sall buie uppe all theyre fame."

The painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1822 to great acclaim.

We arrived in the rain and made a dash for the ticket office where we duly paid our fee and recived a luke warm welcome from the volunteers on the desk. The timed tickets allowed us entry into the house, staggered every 5 minutes to allow groups to disperse from the vestibule into the depths of the house. I found this an interesting approach as every visitor was given a standard introductory talk about the history of the building and the family. 

Marketed as an: Outstanding 14th-century manor house and 18th-century terraced garden. 

Clevedon Court was home to the lords of the manor of Clevedon for centuries, the core of the house is a remarkable survival from the medieval period. The house was purchased by Abraham Elton in 1709 and it is still the much-loved family home of his descendants today.

With a striking display of Eltonware pottery and a fascinating collection of Nailsea glass, there's plenty to explore, but I felt, perhaps too much for the short time we were there, with very little continuity tying it all together. 

Laminated A4 sheets on each item of interest was the general method of communicating, and whilst the guides were willing to give out more information if asked, I got the impression many of them were there more as guards to the collection than to welcome visitors, but perhaps we just caught them on a bad day! 

The personal highlight for me was the charming private chapel, which despite being one of the oldest bits of the building having survived from the early 14th century, with it's austere clean lines and lack of furniture, square headed windows and Victorian painted glass felt oddly postmodern, and completely unexpected in this stately home. 

Anyway, I welcome any thoughts or feedback from those who attended and hope you are all looking froward to the trip to Croome Court on the 2nd September. 

Ed