Church of St Mary the Virgin, Isle Abbotts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary the Virgin |
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| Location | Isle Abbotts, Somerset, England |
| Built | 13th century |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 17 April 1959 |
| Reference no. | 431776 |
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The Church of St Mary the Virgin is an old church located in Isle Abbotts, a village in Somerset, England. It was built a very long time ago, in the 13th century (that's the 1200s!). Over the years, it has been repaired and updated many times. This church is considered very important and special, so it's protected as a Grade I listed building. This means it has a lot of historical and architectural value.
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Exploring the Church Tower
The church has a tall tower with four main levels. The top of the tower has a special wall called an parapet. This wall looks like a castle wall with gaps and solid parts.
Cool Details on the Tower
The parapet has decorative holes shaped like four-leaf clovers, called quatrefoils. The solid parts of the wall, known as merlons, also have narrow, pointed openings. The corners of the tower have very large, pointed decorations called pinnacles. There are even smaller pinnacles attached to these, and more in between.
Ancient Sculptures
All around the tower, in special carved spaces called niches, you can see old stone figures. These sculptures have been there since the Middle Ages!
- On the west side, you can see figures like Christ rising from his tomb, the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus, and Saints Peter and Paul.
- On the south side, there are sculptures of Saint George, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret.
- The east side features Saint John the Baptist and Saint Clement.
- On the north side, you'll find Saint Michael.
Mysterious Stone Carvings
Look closely at the stonework, and you might spot some interesting carvings called hunky punks. These are strange, often grotesque, figures carved into the stone. Many of them have been worn down by the weather over hundreds of years. However, one of them still clearly looks like a person playing the bagpipes!
See Also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in South Somerset
- List of towers in Somerset
