I finally managed to
visit Binstead with my wife in June 2008.
The visit was very informative as we
photographed other pieces of
sculpture in the church which firmly put the sheela and animal head
figure in a Romanesque context.
The church was thought to have served the workmen in the nearby quarry
and from Herringbone work in the walls is thought to date from the mid
12th century around 1150.
Nearby lies Quarr Abbey, a Cistercian house dedicated to the Virgin
Mary which was founded in 1131, by
Baldwin de Redvers, finally being consecrated 1
June 1150." 2
Due to the low status of the church and the nearness
of the higher
status building it would seem likely that sculpture was more likely to
originally have been part of the fabric of the abbey. Only a
few
ruins remain of the original abbey which was dissolved in the 1500s.
The present abbey building dates from 1908. As we have seen in other
churches,sculpture is frequently re-used. It would seem likely that the
the romanesque fragments were rescued from the abbey ruins and re-used
at some point in Binstead church rather than being part of the original
Romanesque incarnation.
The head on which the figure sits is
definitely an animal head grasping its snout with its paws. This is a
common romanesque motif and can be seen on many other churches (e.g. Penmon on Anglesey in
Wales). This along with the other
fragments
in the church appear to be Romanesque in style. The sheela figure
appears also appears to be Romanesque in style although it is very
weathered. Unlike the animal headbelow it is not a corbel being carved
in the round. (Compare to the Holdgate
sheela na gig
in Shropshire).
"The Idol" an older name
It's worth noting that the name "The Idol" is the oldest recorded name
for a sheela predating John O'Donovan's "sheela ny gigg" by 59 years.
It is mentioned in 1781 in "The History of the Isle of Wight" by R.
Worsley and mentioned again in 1795 by J.Albin in "A New, Correct and
Much-improved History of the Isle of Wight" (Andersen). “The Idol” name
was also applied to the sheela in Lusk, County Dublin in
Ireland.
There are number of carved corbels
inside the church
along with a grotesque hunched figure on the end of the church abovethe romanesque fragments. These are thought to be Victorian
although
some of the interior corbels have been carved in a Romanesque style.
Two of the interior corbels, which are crudely carved, appear to be
pipe player which may also
be an angel, while the other appears
to be drummer although both are hard to make out.
John Harding
The
following information is from visits made by Keith Jones and Paul
Sivell a local resident.
Notes from Keith
Jones
A rather badly weathered sheela which
is situated at the apex of an arch gate which leads into the grounds of
the church. The figure appears to be seated, with her arms resting
above her genitals, with a circle vaginal cavity below. She appears to
be sitting on some structure with her legs bent at the knees, and
widely splayed. Her face is now very badly worn, but is bald, and her
large ears are still to seen. Formerly it is though that it had been
placed on the church.
The figure was first mentioned in "The History of the
Isle of Wight" by R. Worsley published in
1781;
'The church is a small plain building
having nothing remarkable about
it, but a rude and very ancient piece of sculpture over the key-stone
of the north door, representing a human figure, sitting with the feet
on a kind of pedestal, resembling a man's head; the whole is about two
feet and a half high; it is vulgarly called the Idol,' (N.B.
Local tradition refers to the figure as the 'Saxon Idol' 1)
Another writer suggested:
'The squatting figure is seated on, and supported by an animal head,
the mouth of which can be seen from below, and with paw like
projections on either side of the head.'
In light of the negative attitudes
towards Sheelas, it is refreshing to
consider John Albin's note in his History of the Isle of Wight
published in 1795:
'A report is related, that this figure was removed some years ago, when
the church was undergoing some repairs, but that it was restored to its
ancient situation on its being productive of displeasure to the
inhabitants.'
Of the old church, only the chancel now remains, and the traces of
herringbone stone work, suggests an early Norman, or Romanesque date.
In 1844 the old nave and associated structured which were contemporary
with the chancel were rebuilt. The church notes state the Sheela was
originally located above the north door of the nave. The church notes
claim:
'Studies by G. E. and A. L. Hutchinson of the Isle or Wight Natural and
Archaeological Society confirmed the figure as a Sheela na gig
associated with pagan
properties of
protection, and possibly fertility'.
During my visit, I found the figure on an ornamental gate a little
south east of the church. The figure which measures 36cm high, 33cm
wide, sits on an animal's head which is 31cm. High, and is 3.4m off the
floor.
Although the Sheela is weathered, and covered in part by white lichen,
it is still possible to make out quite a lot of detail. Her head is
bald, and seems proportionally larger then her body. She has very large
ears, much like the Scregg Castle Sile. Both arms come to rest in
rather flat hands each side of a clear vaginal cavity. The figure has
very broad hips, which contrast with rather spindly legs which suggests
this is a seated figure. I would agree with the suggestion that she
sits on an animals head. The animal seems to wear a muzzle, and appears
to be a bear.
Notes from Paul
Sivell
'You will see that there has been some modern re-pointing and there
dollops of cement mortar under each of the sheela's feet. I don't know
if you agree but the feet appear to to curve in and it looks as though
both hands & feet are being used to to pull open the vulva. I
am undecided about the stone beneath. The sheela is sited above the
archway to the east of the main entrance to the church. It is about 4 m
up and approx 0.5m in height (excluding the base stone). It is made
from Binstead/Quarr limestone. This was quarried extensively in the
immediate vicinity of the site, quarrying apparently began around 300
A.D. although it was most famed during the medieval period. Winchester
Cathedral, Romsey
Abbey & the upper portion of the tower of London were
all made from
"The Idol" an older name
It's worth noting that the name "The Idol" is the oldest recorded name
for a sheela predating John O'Donovan's "sheela ny gigg" by 59 years.
It is mentioned in 1781 in "The History of the Isle of Wight" by R.
Worsley and mentioned again in 1795 by J.Albin in "A New, Correct and
Much-improved History of the Isle of Wight" (Andersen). “The Idol” name
was also applied to the sheela in Lusk, County Dublin in
Ireland.
Binstead Limestone. The
sheela has always been known
locally as the "Saxon Idol". I was first shown it and told this as a
child by my father in the mid 1950's.
Pictures copyright Paul
Sivell of Arbutus
Website www.thecarvedtree.com
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