Dr James Alexander Cameron

@drjacameron.stainedglassattitudes.com

1418 Followers 292 Following

Freelance art and architectural historian with focus on English medieval churches but love poking around all buildings. ALL BUILDINGS! www.stainedglassattitudes.com https://ko-fi.com/stainedglassattitudes

View of Abbey complex at Evesham from the S. River Avon to L. Two parish churches above the inner precinct with the freestanding bell tower. The nave bays are marked out, the E arm and chapter house are too, but with broken markers
Wymondham Abbey, Norfolk, from SE, showing surviving lantern before the monastic crossing
Prof Michele Dougherty, executive chair of the science and technology branch of UKRI, told the BBC: "After listening to our community we have protected core discovery research. However, the situation does require some tough, but necessary, decisions. These are never easy choices, but we have made what we feel are the right decisions to bring... a sustainable financial position by 2029/30." quote from https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/jodrell-bank-observatory-facing-closure-34359164
G-Earth coverage for Norfolk showing c.50x40 KM of area with Norwich just NW of centre
Cobham chancel looking E, deep lancet windows with interior shafting. Also later sedilia with semi-ogee canopies dating to the upgrade of the church to collegiate, c.1383, very likely under Henry Yevele.
Text from the brass to Agnes and her husbands Thomas Fortey and William Scors, Northleach. Under their feet is the inscription "Hic iacet Thom's ffortey Wolma Will's Scors Taylour & Agnes ux' eorude q' quide Thom's obiit p'mo die deceb a∘ d'n'I MCCCC 47 Will's obiit […] die […] a∘ dni MCCCCXX [blank] Agnes obitt [blank] die [blank] / A∘ (d'ni MCCCC [blank]" That is: Here lie Thom' Ffortey, Woolman, Will's Scors tailor & Agnes wife. The same Thomas obit first day December anno domini 14 47, Will's obit [?] day [?] anno domini 1420 Agnes obit [?] die [?] anno do,ini 14[] The exterior strip (only partially surviving, some parts recorded in antiquarian sources) reads: "Sub pede morte iacens Thomas ffortey et sua sponsa placens Agnes sibi consociatur [Mercator dignus iustus ueraxq benignus] Roscitur in signis non [gaudens spe malignis] Ecc'liarum suar viarum fit Reparator Criste Suarum Sis miserator [Mille] quater X septem monumentu [primo dat' flamen Deceni Sbe buc beat ...]" Under the foot of death lies Thomas Fortey and his fair bride Agnes known as [noble merchant just true and kind]. He found no joy in others' woe, [?]. Churches and roads he repairs. Christ may you find mercy thousand 47 The two scrolls over the children read Pray for ye children of Thomas Fortey / Theyse be ye childen Willia Scors, vi. showing who paid and got prayers for their children
Three art historians examine the Abbot Thomas brass in St Albans N choir aisle, 2014 (please note the Amphibalus shrine top R, since restored and relocated in the S aisle chapel)
"The Alan Fleming Brass This is the largest and oldest memorial in St Mary's. installed in the church in 1361, it commemorates Alan Fleming, a wealthy cloth merchant. Brass monuments like this were installed on or nearby the final resting place of the dead and were designed to demonstrate heir piety and wealth. The Alan Fleming brass is one of the four largest "Flemish" brasses in England, thought to be completed by the same unknown artist. The other three brasses are located in King's Lynn, Norfolk and St Alban's Abbey, Hertfordshire. Brass plates like these were usually made in Cologne, hen shipped to East Anglian ports. A translation of the writing around the edge of the brass reads: 'Here lies Alan Fleming, who died on St Helena's Day, in the year of the Lord 1361. May his soul, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen I believe that my redeemer liveth, and that I shall rise again at the last day from the earth, and shall be clothed again with my skin, and in my flesh shall see God, my Saviour, whom I, myself, shall behold and mine eyes shall look upon, and not another. This hope is placed in my breast.' Alan Fleming is first recorded in the Court records of Newark in 1340 In 1349, he and his wife Alice founded the Corpus Christi chantry chapel. On her death, Alice also endowed the Chantry House for the residence of the chantry priests."
Sign by St Peter's, 2018. St Peter's Church An architectural and archaeological treasure Opening times: 30 Mar - 30 Sep (Sun & [Bank Holiday]) 10am - 3pm Admission prices Members: free Adult: £5.00 (4.50 non gift aid) Concession: £4.60 (4.10 non gift aid)
View from the rood screen, looking down at the excavated Norman apse footings, 1980. The two squares are post-medieval brick-faced burial vaults.
My overlay of interesting features in the environs of Barton-Upon-Humber, over aerial photography dated 2007.
St Peter, Barton-Upon-Humber from the S. The S aisle wall and windows are very late 13th century (broadly influenced by later Rayonnant, uncircled geometric forms), the clerestory is brick and dates to the fifteenth century.
View of the north side of the tower showing the early 11thc work in sandstone. Mostly the blocks forming the semi-circular arches are non radial (ie, they don't splay out to fit the curve of the arch) although admittedly, some of them broadly are. The trianglar "arches" are monolithic blocks that intersect with a mitre joint at the head.
Barton-Upon-Humber, St Peter, from SW. The bapistery is gabled with two circular windows - the trace of an arch is a doorway that was knocked through in 1858 and blocked again in 1869-70. The tower has a doorway with a semi-circular arch resting on imposts, and a double opening of similar form on the first storey. The stories are articulated by sandstone dressings, pilaster strips articulating first storey with round arches and second with triangular. The original belfry windows are also double triangular openings. The Early Norman Romanesque belfry has coursed limestone and the W bell opening has been replaced with simple Decorated style tracery.
Portrait of Isaac Newton by Godfrey Kneller oil on canvas, feigned oval, 1702 29 3/4 in. x 24 1/2 in. (756 mm x 622 mm) National Portrait Gallery 2881 In this portrait Newton is wearing a brown wig. An earlier portrait by Kneller of 1689 (private collection, Earl of Portsmouth) shows him with his natural grey hair.
Portrait sold at Sotheby's 2006, current location undisclosed. 2006 description. "Mary Beale Portrait of a mathematician oil on canvas three-quarter length, seated in a front of an astrological globe, wearing red robes, holding a pair of compasses." It has been argued the paper his compasses rest on is a September 1685 manuscript of Hooke's “The Laws of Circular Motion”, and the view of Lowther Castle and its church, which Hooke has been suggested as being consulted on regarding its rebuilding in 1686. Biggest issue is, for the mid 1680s, he doesn't look 50
Science Museum 1928-786 Their description: Compound microscope designed by Robert Hooke, 1671-1700 and thought to have been made by Christopher Cock, Long Acre, Covent Garden, London, but not signed. Part of an accessory for manipulating specimens has survived and the objective lens is a modern replacement made in 1965.
top of Google Results for Robert Hooke, with AI slop image as top result
Salisbury Cathedral, NE side of crossing. The two L/R flyers were added to secure the crossing prior to the raising of the lantern in the early 14thc. The steeply sloping flyer directly into the newel stair was added 1481 to help shore up the structure along with the interior masonry bracings. The ironwork bracing the corners is, in origin, medieval
Graffito of London Cathedral on clunch ashlar face in Ashwell church. detail showing the crossing. the spire is carved on the block above. It appears to show the NE aspect, with the free-standing campanile to the L/south
Detail of Hollar print c.1657 from S showing the tower flyers
Royal MS 14 C VII (Matthew Paris, Historia Anglorum, Chronica majora, Part III), f. 2, c.1250-9, showing London Cathedral with its great crossing spire
Letter to Robert Boyle 25 Aug 1664 "... the pendulum, the half second pendulum was several times observed to give twenty four strokes or vibrations. ... In another place of the Tower, where I had very clear perpendicular descent, I with a plum-line found the perpendicular height of it two hundred and four foot very near, [62m] which is about sixty foot [18m] higher than it was usually reported to be. In which place I shall, with some other company, this week try the velocity of the descent of the falling bodies, the Torricellian experiment, and several experiments about pendulums, and weighing." As quoted in Cooper, A more beautiful city: Robert Hooke and the rebuilding of London after the great fire, Sutton 2003, pp.58-9
John Scofield's reconstruction of the elevation of London's Romanesque nave: 24 metres from floor to apex of the vault wall-rib.
Model view viewed from NE with vertical measurement in metres showing parapet of crossing tower (before timber spire) is just below 80 m
London Cathedral (Old St Paul's), based on a wood and card model made by John B. Thorpe c.1908 and held by the Museum of London, photogrammetry by artfletch 2019. Viewed from the SE
Black polished stone with inset marble disc and cross at head, laid flat on grass Text: "Birthe Kjølbye-Biddle 15th July 1941 16 January 2010 Archaeologist Excavator of Old Minster Wife of Martin Biddle Parents of Signe & Solvej" Flowers have been placed on the grave
Facebook post by BBC Gloucestershire of an upright video about the Mary de Crypt HLF grant. Text: "How incredible! 👏 This painting has been up in St Mary de Crypt Church for more than 200 years 😱 Now the church has received funding to preserve and learn more about the artwork"
G Earth view of Winchester Cathedral from the NE. Birthe's monument is opposite the E end of nave bay 6, marked in red.
Black polished stone with inset marble disc and cross at head, laid flat on grass, surrounded by modern brick marking out robbed foundations of Winchester Old Minster. Text: "Birthe Kjølbye-Biddle 15th July 1941 16 January 210 Archaeologist Excavator of Old Minster Wife of Martin Biddle Parents of Signe & Solvej" Flowers have been placed on the grave
St Mary de Crypt, chancel S arcade from S aisle. The arcade pier splits into an ogee-headed doorway of a stone parclose screen. Photo by Alastair Stevens, July 2020, via G-Maps
Headline "Church gets £1m to restore medieval wall paintings" Image of the 1530s Adoration of the Magi mural in St Mary de Crypt Gloucester Caption "Adoration of the Magi, itself badly faded, covers over another mural thought to date back to Saxon times"
Picture caption from BBC story "St Mary de Crypt is thought to be one of the oldest and smallest churches in England"
There are three banks — the Stamford, Spalding and Boston, the National Provincial and that of Messrs Garfit, Claypon and Co. ; in addition to which are savings banks
No. 8 Market Place Spalding, ground storey I took this! The other week!
Site description text. The parts I have highlighted are "as a structure dating from the very early C19th (decorative stonework plaque upon the front elevation indicates 1800 precisely" and "large, sculpted stone blazon with 'ANNO DOMINI MDCCCC'"
Tom Harwood, tweet from 10 Dec 2019 "If Boris wins, the 20s are going to be so roaring. 🇬🇧🎉🍾" GIF of party from Baz Luhrmann‘s The Great Gatsby film (2013)
Donnington church, photogrammetry model from SE. The most striking thing about Donnington is its tower (built by the Heckington school of masons c.1330) is in the position of the S porch rather than axial to the W end of the nave.
Composite of the Pinchbeck Fen map from every published photograph I have found to bring out the details for every part as clearly as possible. National Archives MPCC 1/7 Dimensions 97 x 83 cm (38.2 x 32.7 inch)
Same figure of Mary Magdalene as image 1 above, but showing more of the crenelated parapet which has shields in pointed quatrefoils: a motif common to a loose group of masons active in central Lincolnshire during the late 15thc as best exemplified at the church of St Helen, Brant Broughton
Mary Magdalene stone sculpture, identifiable by long flowing hair and ointment jar (from conflation with gospel accounts of women drying and annointing Jesus' feet with their hair). She is is in a vaulted niche that stands over the high gable of the E window, fronted by two cusped arches with four cusped panels above, and crockets around the base of the niche's "roof".
Newark Church, unit at W end of S nave aisle. serving hatch to café right, doors to three toilets (two unisex, one accessible) on right. Arched-out metal light fittings over the the cubicles.
General view of bay 7, 8, 9 and the return of the W front. The gap in the mortar join is under the window of bay 7.
straight join in the masonry of the inner face of the wall of the S nave aisle of Wells Cathedral between bays 6/7 (!), widely understood as a downing of tools after the Interdict is declared on England by Pope Innocent III against King John's choice for Archbishop of Canterbury, that resulted in an exodus of bishops and the possession by the Crown of their secular property incomes, which made it impossible to pay masons. The join is accentuated by the change in the size of ashlars in the resumption of work in the 1220s.
Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms throws a thing at some guy in Wells Cathedral
Plaque in Catalan: 10 JVNY 2026 A LA GLORIA I LIOANCA D DEV, EN RECORD DEL PAS DE SS EL PAPA LLEO XIV. OVE VA BENEIR LA TORRE DE JESVCRIST, EN EL DIA DIA SEVA INAVGVRACIO EN EL CENTENARI DE LA MORT D'ANTONI GAVDI
Gaudí in the sky (a real drone ensemble?) looking down at an illuminated basilica
The Pope sprinkling holy water toward the completed crossing tower, alongside a cardinal
Pope Leo crossing the basilica toward the Nativity Facade portal, with clergy and laypeople all with their mobile phone screens showing
Dusk above the basilica, with its complement of tower cranes
Pope Leo with mitre and papal ferula at the dismissal
Pope Leo XIV at the high altar of La Sagrada Familia
Pope Leo XIV and clerical retinue during the Kyrie of the Solemn Mass of the dedication of la Sagrada Família's Jesus Tower
La Sagrada Família from the NW (liturgical south, facing the Nativity Facade), topped out with the cross with arms in cardinal directions. The major tower crane remains, anchored to its structure, and one to the right)
Durham chapter house, apse, essentially all 1890s but built over original footings.
Durham Cathedral has the following policy on photography in the Cathedral and precincts Cathedral Visitors are not permitted to photograph in the Cathedral. This includes use of still, digital and video cameras and mobile telephones. The Cathedral is primarily a place of worship and the Chapter believe that all who visit should be able to do so undisturbed by use of cameras. However, the Chapter recognises that some educational research may require specific images of the Cathedral and artefacts associated with it. The, Monks' Dormitory (when open), and the Treasures of St Cuthbert Exhibition all sell colour-slides of artefacts and views. The Cathedral Library holds a large number of master microfilms, slides, and negatives. Copies can be ordered from the Library (open 9.00am ~ 1.00pm and 2.0pm ~ 5.00pm Monday to Friday except for Christmas, Easter and the first 2 weeks in July). Photography permits, for specific educational purposes only, may be purchased from The Chapter Office (Monday Friday 9.00am ~ 5.00pm) ог the Vergers' Vestry at the weekends. Proof of academic status may be required. The following conditions apply. A fee of £15.00 (including VAT) per day for each permit must be paid Students will be charged £7.00 (including VAT) on production of a valid student ID Card The permit is for a designated day only No flash photography is permitted Additional lighting can only be used by prior agreement No children must be photographed Photographers should make every effort not to include visitors or Chapter staff in their photographs unless their express permission has been sought and received Photographers must ensure that their equipment does not impede visitor or staff access nor poses a threat to the health and safety of others in the Cathedra! Photographers with a permit (currently a brightly coloured 'sash') should wear this at all times Stewards, Bedesmen, Vergers are charged with ensuring that all visitors are aware of and adhere to the Chapter's policy