Geo-Trips :: Baleful Glances II
East Cotswolds
A drive from Alvescot, Sat, 1 Mar 2025 by Basher Eyre
| preceding leg | This trip is part of a series. | next leg |
It all started with an article in my sister's Church Monument Society bulletin, detailing the 45 known locations for bale tombs across Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Originally thought to be used to depict that a wealthy wool merchant was interred there, the society's Sally Badhham now thinks the bale represents half a column, adding status to the chest and the ledger. As Chairman Mao once said "Every journey, however long, starts with a single step", here are the second ten locations
Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )
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St Sampson at twilight
This church in Cricklade is one of 45 that has an East Cotswolds Bale Tomb
St Sampson, Cricklade: bale tomb (Jenner family)
Diagonally corded bale with shell end niches. Moulded ledger. Chest: sides plain... more
Bale tomb in Latton Churchyard
A banded bale with four bands at middle and four at each end, area in between... more
St Peter, Alvescot: early March 2025
This church is one of 45 that has an East Cotswolds Bale Tomb
St Peter, Alvescot: bale tomb (Herbert family)
Single gadrooned bale. Moulded ledger. Inscription to Sarah Harding (d. 1799),... more
St Peter, Alvescot: bale tomb (Clarrig)
Damaged remains of bale of indeterminate typr. Deep moulded ledger. Chest: aslar... more
SS Peter &t Paul, Broadwell: early March 2025
This church is one of 45 that has an East Cotswolds Bale Tomb
SS Peter &t Paul, Broadwell: bale tomb (Turner family)
Banded bale carved in 2 sections with reversed-diagonal cording, shell niche ends.... more
SS Michael & Martin, Eastleach Martin: bale tomb (Baxter Family)
Banded bale with simple foliate scrolls. Shell niche ends. Chest has lozenge... more
St. Peter, Southrop: early March 2025
This church is one of 45 that has an East Cotswolds Bale Tomb
St. Peter, Southrop: bale tomb (Mary Ready)
Banded bale with shell niche ends. Chest has frieze with lozenge decoration.... more
St Lawrence, Lechlade: early March 2025
This church is one of 45 that has an East Cotswolds Bale Tomb
St Lawrence, Lechlade: bale tomb (Anne Gearing)
Plain hipped bale. Moulded ledger. Chest: sides each have rectangular central... more
St Mary, Fairford: early March 2025
One of 45 that has an East Cotswolds Bale Tomb
St Mary, Fairford: bale tomb (Whitford family)
Banded bale with ridged ends and central bands with reversed diagonal moulding... more
St Mary, Fairford: bale tomb (Morgan family)
Banded bale with curved field bands at centre. Ledger has gadrooned fluting.... more
St Mary, Fairford: bale tomb (V.S 1662)
Diagonally corded bale with shell end niche, within which rams horns. Gadrooned... more
St. Mary, Meysey Hampton: early March 2025
This church is one of 45 that has an East Cotswolds Bale Tomb
St. Mary, Meysey Hampton: bale tomb (Fletcher family)
Banded bale with curved fielded panels between three bands; shell ends with... more
St Mary, Kempsford: bale tomb (Merchant family)
Diagonally corded bale with flat plain ends. Moulded ledger. Chest, inscription on... more
St Michael & All Angels, Poulton: early March 2025
I came looking for a bale tomb, only to discover it is in the churchyard at... more
All images © Basher Eyre and available under a
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