| I've not visited
this sheela personally. 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 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.
"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.
|
Pictures copyright Paul Sivell of Arbutus
Website www.thecarvedtree.com
|
