Medieval craftsmen

...you have to love them, don't you!

This morning in the pouring rain I did something I've never done before - I went along to St Bartholomew's Church which I knew is now open to visitors on Saturday mornings.

This glorious medieval head was sitting on one of the windowsills.  It clearly came originally from Hyde Abbey, though nothing more is known about it.  You have to wonder who of his neighbours or fellow craftsmen the stonemason was taking off when he made this ;))

The church, which was built approx 1110 AD,  had quite a lot of restoration done in the 19th Century, which is probably when the wonderfully decorative organ pipes were installed (see Extra).

Not a lot else: walking Hazel, cleaning up house mess and - for someone else - making a much more grown-up phonecall than I really wanted to on a wet Saturday.

Hope your start to the weekend's been a good one.  And huge thanks for all the love you gave yesterday's kingfisher  xx