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I Location

II General Description

Large church of 14thc. and later, extensively restored 1859-60. In the churchyard N of the church a flint building, originally the Chantry Chapel of St Mary, later a school. In the S wall of this is a reset 11thc. or 12thc. relief.

III Exterior Features

3. Exterior Decoration

d. Miscellaneous

(i) Reset slab

Reset in S wall of St Mary's Chantry chapel, a rectangular slab with lower corners chamfered carved with a horse galloping to R. Only two nearside legs shown, rear on ground, fore raised. The long tail curves between rear legs, up over body, right around neck and terminates above middle of back. Large almond-shaped eye and open mouth. Damage to front hoof and upper jaw, although the long lower jaw is certainly horse-like. Lower corners of block slightly chamfered (or damaged).

Dimensions

VII History

The manor, including a church, was held by the king in DS.

VIII Comments/Opinions

Within Berkshire, the Aquarius relief from Wallingford Castle, now in Reading Museum, is of similar dimensions but differs from the Bray relief in having a more simplified figure style, greater depth of carving and a reserved border. Outside the county, reliefs of similar size carved with animals are found, for example, at Peasmarsh (Sussex) and in the group of five stones excavated in Canterbury in 1985, which Kahn (1989) tentatively ascribed to Lanfranc's screen of c.1080-90. A screen seems less likely here than an original setting as part of a frieze, or as a 'random relief' in or on an earlier church, although if the slight chamfering of the lower corners is original it might point to a spandrel setting. Pevsner (1966) noted the relief with the query, "Is it Norman?" Stylistic parallels are not easy to find the horse with its slender legs, deep chest and indications of front and rear thigh joints bears little resemblance to the blockier Wallingford, Canterbury or Peasmarsh figures. The decorative treatment of the tail, delineation of thigh joints, deep chest and narrow waist invites comparison with such late 11thc. work as the capital carved with a lion from Campsall, Yorkshire (see Bibliography) but there can be no workshop connection. A date of c.1080-90 is tentatively suggested.

IX Bibliography