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Abbey Prospect, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Location
(52°14′34″N, 0°43′11″E)
Bury St Edmunds
TL 858 640
pre-1974 traditional (England and Wales) Suffolk
now Suffolk
  • Ron Baxter
20 January 2022

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Description

Abbey Prospect is a Victorian canon's residence in the Great Churchyard, alongside the S wall of the abbey precinct. A long rear garden runs outside the precinct wall, and various carved stones were found in this and reset in the garage wall.

Features

Exterior Features

Exterior Decoration

Miscellaneous

Loose Sculpture

Comments/Opinions

The size of the female head associates it with the head of a king in the Abbey Gardens and the male head (1994-1) in Moyses Hall museum, and the decorated headgear and fineness of the carving imply a similar date in the 1170s or '80s. The downward looking eyes are very striking but may be the result of damage. The scalloped headdress merits further research.

The cushion capital with its reeded bands also finds parallels in Moyses Hall, where it appears on the capitals of the responds set up to resemble a fireplace. The base is carved to carry a detached shaft and may come from a wall arcade or a divided gallery opening.