|
The
Font and the Woodwose
|
At the back of St
Catherine's Church in Ludham stands the font. It
dominates the open space in front of the tower and is a
fine place to be baptised.
The Font (with the Archive Map behind)
This font, car ved in the 15th Century is unusual as
it has two Woodwoses (Green Men) carved on it. Here is
the text of the notice you see in the picture:
The font in Ludham Church is a typical 15th
Century East Anglian one, eight sided, with the four
Evangelists, emblems of the Lion of St Mark, the
eagle, the ox and the angel on the bowl. On the corona
are angels with out-spread wings. It is the figures on
the shaft that make this font virtually unique, for,
between the two lions séjant (sitting up), are a male
and female woodwose.
The woodwose, woodhouse or woodwo, the wild man of the
woods, was a popular mediaeval folklore figure,
dressing in a lion's skin and in this case carrying a
heavy club and shield. Female woodwoses are extremely
rare, only existing on ancient tapestries and
glass. This one carries a huge club, like her partner,
but no shield. Her hands protrude from the fur, but
her feet were damaged at the time of the reformation.
The eight sided font, in ecclesiastical symbolism, is
the sign of regeneration. The woodwoses may presumably
represent unregenerate man. These strange figures are
seen far more in Norfolk and suffolk than in any other
county.
Between the lions and the woodwoses are three figures
and a missing one. These represent the Abbot of St
Benet's; baptism - a mother and child; and a deacon or
sub-deacon.
Perhaps the person who carved the font was keeping his
options open with the old religion as well as the
current one. We may never know, but the font is well
worth a careful look.
Here are some more pictures;
|