Photo by Keith Jones.
This figure is reported in Images of Lust as being a possible Beakhead sheela unfortunately it is covered in a thick layer of whitewash which makes identification and study of the figure difficult. When Keith visited the church the vicar informed him that the whitewash was due to be removed at some time in the near future. It would be interesting to see what type of figure would be revealed. I hope to have more information on this figure when I visit it in person.
History
Although this figure is covered we can make some inferences about it's
likelihood of of being a sheela na gig. The carving the rest of the church
appears to be Romanesque so we are at least in the right period for an
exhibitionist figure.
Other whitewashed figures in the church.
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Bugthorpe Church
All photographs by Keith Jones
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