St Nicholas Church, Barfrestone, Kent.

 

The eastern end of the 12th Century Church, showing the Norman arches and the wonderful Wheel Window.

Detail from the above photo, showing the carving of part of the Wheel Window.

Deep in the heart of East Kent is the tiny hamlet of Barfrestone, where the beautiful Church of St Nicholas can be found. This wonderful little church can truly be called a gem, I hope my photos will convey a little of the beauty of the Norman architecture, and the peace that can be found here.

The South front, note the ‘grotesques’ all along the top of the wall.

The beautiful South Door

As you can see it was a beautiful day, my daughter was busy with her dissertation, so I went on one of my ‘jaunts’ as the family call them. I have visited the church a number of times but not for a very long time, I had forgotten just how beautiful it is.

Looking towards the Wheel window and the Altar. A tiny church but just perfect!

The view from the Altar looking to the western end of the church, the carved pillars are beautiful.

The stained glass in the wheel window.

The stained glass in the church is all relatively modern, I was surprised to find that the centre window of the three stained glass windows below the Wheel Window is in memory of Jane Austen. Sadly not the famous novelist, but I suspect a relative of hers in a later generation!

           

St Nicholas holding his church

The carvings of this church are world famous, with most of the carvings being on the outside of the building. On the North side of the building is a blocked up door, only when you get up close to this do you see the amazing carvings.

The blocked up North door

             

                       

As I mentioned there are carved figures all round the church under the eaves of the roof, below are a few of these, I may have to go back to get more photos of them…..

     

                 

               

This one is my favourite:

It appears to be a wolf riding on the back of a monkey

Below are some of the carvings which surround the South door

One of the reasons I wanted to re-visit this church is because I knew that St Marys Church at Betteshanger had copied at least part of this church when it was built. The Tympanum on both churches is remarkably similar, as are the three small pointed windows and the wheel window on the eastern end of both churches. The Tympanum is the semi-circular carving over the main South door of each church. Below are photos of both church doors for you to see the comparison. Please check out my earlier blog on St Marys Church, taken in April 2012: http://poppysplace-poppy.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/st-marys-church-betteshanger-kent.html

The Tympanum at St Nicholas Church, Barfrestone

The Tympanum, St Marys Church, Betteshanger.

Pebble Art and a rough sea.

Bank Holiday Monday and the sun was shining, great! But there was a howling Easterly wind blowing straight off the sea and it was freezing!! I suppose it only to be expected of an Easter weekend, and I needed to get some air, so early afternoon I madly decided to have a walk. It was a short walk but it really blew the cobwebs away!

In front of the Cafe on The Green someone had done some pebble art, it was very well done and lovely to see.

Pebble Art

Seagull

Dolphin

I walked on to the beach near the Lifeboat House, took a few photos then more or less went straight home. I hope we get sunshine and some warmth soon, we need it after the horrible winter we have had.

The seagulls were enjoying the weather.

Can you see the pebbles being dislodged by the sea? I don’t think I have ever noticed this before.

Waves pretending to be whipped cream!!

I hope you all had a really good Easter