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A Community Service Website by Roy Romsey - romseys@yahoo.com
Romsey Abbey
Guide
A Medieval Gem
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A.D. 1120 - A.D.2020
Capitals
The capitals that crown the columns at Romsey Abbey are decorated in a variety of styles, from cushioned, voluted and scalloped, to more decorative foliated, chevron and historiated capitals. Carved capitals appear even in areas of the galleries at clerestory level where they are seldom seen.
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The craftsmanship of the stonemasons responsible for the decorative work of the capitals and other areas is hugely underrated.
Scroll and click to enlarge
Capital in South Trancept of Romsey Abbey
Capital in South transept of Romsey Abbey. The southern most capital of the blind arcade on the west wall.
Scroll Capital
This clerestory capital is one of just 3 or 4 showing a scroll effect.
Photo P1090543 by Roy Romsey
Location C-D07-S3
Plain Cushioned Capital
The plain style of cushion capitals is used almost exclusively throughout the clerestory level. particularly facing onto the galleries which are seldom seen.
However, it has a simplistic elegance which counterpoints the more intricate designs on the ground floor.
Photo P1090910 by Romsey
Location C-B10-S1
Cushioned Capitals
The occasional decorative addition to a cushioned capital at the clererstory level suggests that perhaps it was a teaching exercise for the stonemason's apprentices.
Photo P1100072 by Roy Romsey
Location C-D12-S1
Leaf Capital
One of very few non-cushion capital found at clerestory level showing a leaf embelishment.
Photo P1090357 by Roy Romsey
Location C-D02-S3
13th Century Capital
This capital is thought to represent Abbess Cecilia or Abbess Constance, both from the 13th century and both of whom oversaw much of the final building phase of the abbey.
She is flanked by foliage and the heads of two people who might have been the master mason and one other.
It can be seen between the north door and the gift shop.
Photo P1070562 by Roy Romsey
Location G-E03-N1
Donkey
The donkey on this capital would appear to be protesting to being prodded by its master.
A reference perhaps to Baalam's ass as referred to in Numbers 22:28.
Photo P1160430 by Roy Romsey
Location G-F14-S1
Historiated Capital
Many of the capitals at ground level are historiated with illustrations of stories, life or myths.
This capital appears to show a peasant with a faggot of wood on his back bringing sheafs of wheat to the lord of the manor.
Another interpretation is that of scenes from the labours of the month - November and January.
Photo P1160558 by Roy Romsey
Location G-F15-N2
The 'Robert' capital
The scroll between two people reads 'Robert look about you', with what one assumes is the Abbess overlooking everything with a very satisfied look on her face.
The othe wording translates as 'Robert made me'.
Photo P1170154 by Roy Romsey
Location G-G13-N3
Look About You
This historated capital is probably the most visited as it includes lettering which helps one interpretate it.
The scroll between two people reads 'Robert look about you', with what one assumes is the Abbess overlooking everything with a very satisfied look on her face.
The othe wording translates as 'Robert made me'.
Photo P1170155 by Roy Romsey
Location G-G13-N3
The King and the Abbess
The two faces on this capital are thought to be King Stephen, whose actions triggered the Anarchy civil war of 1135-1153, and his daughter Mary de Blois, she not only became an abbess of Romsey Abbey, but also a very wealthy woman on the death of her father and her elder brother.
'It was Mary's uncle, Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester (1129-71), who was probably the builder of the greater part of Romsey Abbey as it now stands.
Abbess Mary in 1160 left her monastery to become the wife of Matthew, son of Theodoric, Earl of Flanders. By him she had two daughters, but was afterwards separated from her husband.
According to Matthew Paris this separation was brought about by the censure of the Church, and she returned in penitence to Romsey'. - 'The county History of Hampshire'.
Photo P1180867 by Roy Romsey
Location G-H10-E3
Attack
This depiction is of what looks like a dog viciously attacking a bear, perhaps in defence of its master.
Photo P1190358 photo by roy romsey
Location G-G08-E3
Photo P1190358 photo by roy romsey
Location G-G08-E3
Foliated Capital
This is the only clerestory capital where the stonemason has spent extra time and skill in producing a folliated capital.
Photo P1110701 by Roy Romsey
Location C-G03-N2
Floriated Capital
A delicately carved capital of foliage and grapes
Photo P1110882 by roy romsey
Located G-D02-N1
Photo P1110882 by roy romsey
Located G-D02-N1
Capital sculpture
Could this be a "cat with angel wings"?
Cats feature in many of the carved corbels around the abbey and are mentioned a number of times in historical reference to the nun's keeping of cats as pets.
Photo P1140932 photo by roy romsey
Location G-D11-N1
Accordian flutes
Southern most capital of the blind arcade on the west wall in the south trancept of Romsey Abbey.
Location code G-H09-W04
Location code G-H09-W04
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