Simon Knott
@simoninsuffolk.bsky.social
'dust in the air suspended,
marks the place where a story ended'
Find me at http://www.simonknott.co.uk
Also available on X/Twitter. All photos mine.
marks the place where a story ended'
Find me at http://www.simonknott.co.uk
Also available on X/Twitter. All photos mine.
Cheek to cheek. A c1390 misericord in Chester Cathedral for #Woodensday.
November 26, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Cheek to cheek. A c1390 misericord in Chester Cathedral for #Woodensday.
The poet William Cowper was born #OTD 26 November 1731. His dog Beau and his hares Tiney and Puss in his memorial window at Dereham, Norfolk.
'Old Tiney, surliest of his kind,
Who, nursed with tender care,
And to domesticate bounds confined,
Was still a wild jack-hare.'
More: tinyurl.com/bdz8dvvv
'Old Tiney, surliest of his kind,
Who, nursed with tender care,
And to domesticate bounds confined,
Was still a wild jack-hare.'
More: tinyurl.com/bdz8dvvv
November 26, 2025 at 9:11 AM
The poet William Cowper was born #OTD 26 November 1731. His dog Beau and his hares Tiney and Puss in his memorial window at Dereham, Norfolk.
'Old Tiney, surliest of his kind,
Who, nursed with tender care,
And to domesticate bounds confined,
Was still a wild jack-hare.'
More: tinyurl.com/bdz8dvvv
'Old Tiney, surliest of his kind,
Who, nursed with tender care,
And to domesticate bounds confined,
Was still a wild jack-hare.'
More: tinyurl.com/bdz8dvvv
If you haven't spent all your money on Pevsners in the Yale 50% off sale, Boydell have a 60% off hardbacks sale running until 2 December! For example, Trevor Cooper's brilliant 'The Journal of WIlliam Dowsing' is reduced from £60 to just £24. more here: boydellandbrewer.com
Boydell & Brewer
Publishing excellence, independently delivered A trusted independent scholarly publisher specialising in the humanities and social sciences. Browse books University of Rochester Press Focuses on the u...
boydellandbrewer.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:11 PM
If you haven't spent all your money on Pevsners in the Yale 50% off sale, Boydell have a 60% off hardbacks sale running until 2 December! For example, Trevor Cooper's brilliant 'The Journal of WIlliam Dowsing' is reduced from £60 to just £24. more here: boydellandbrewer.com
One last St Catherine on her feast day, a 16C Flemish roundel now in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow. At her feet is the Emperor Maxentius, who ordered his pagan philosophers to convince her out of her Christianity. Unfortunately for him she converted them all, and so he put 200 of them to death.
November 25, 2025 at 9:05 AM
One last St Catherine on her feast day, a 16C Flemish roundel now in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow. At her feet is the Emperor Maxentius, who ordered his pagan philosophers to convince her out of her Christianity. Unfortunately for him she converted them all, and so he put 200 of them to death.
On her feast day, St Catherine of Alexandria with her spiked wheel and sword in glass by Harry Stammers, 1965, in the lady chapel of St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol. 1/3
November 25, 2025 at 8:31 AM
On her feast day, St Catherine of Alexandria with her spiked wheel and sword in glass by Harry Stammers, 1965, in the lady chapel of St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol. 1/3
Today's the feast of St Catherine, one of the most popular of all saints in English medieval church art. Here she is, leaning on her wheel, on the war-damaged 15th Century font at Nettlestead, one of Suffolk's loveliest little churches.
Nettlestead: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/nettlestead....
Nettlestead: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/nettlestead....
November 25, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Today's the feast of St Catherine, one of the most popular of all saints in English medieval church art. Here she is, leaning on her wheel, on the war-damaged 15th Century font at Nettlestead, one of Suffolk's loveliest little churches.
Nettlestead: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/nettlestead....
Nettlestead: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/nettlestead....
It's a month today until the first day of Christmas! It'll soon be time to think of John the Baptist pointing the way. Here he is by Ninian Comper, c1930, at St James Episcopal church, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, a few miles from Comper's home city of Aberdeen (Douglas Strachan's home city too).
November 25, 2025 at 7:44 AM
It's a month today until the first day of Christmas! It'll soon be time to think of John the Baptist pointing the way. Here he is by Ninian Comper, c1930, at St James Episcopal church, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, a few miles from Comper's home city of Aberdeen (Douglas Strachan's home city too).
The Pelican in her Piety, plucking her breast to feed her chicks on her own blood, in the east window at Debden, Essex, by Gibbs & Howard, 1882. This metaphoric symbol for eucharistic sacrifice was popular in the late medieval period, and it was popular in the 19th Century too.
November 24, 2025 at 6:53 PM
The Pelican in her Piety, plucking her breast to feed her chicks on her own blood, in the east window at Debden, Essex, by Gibbs & Howard, 1882. This metaphoric symbol for eucharistic sacrifice was popular in the late medieval period, and it was popular in the 19th Century too.
Daniel the prophet. One of several panels from a 14th Century Tree of Jesse, reset in the north aisle at Lowick, Northamptonshire. They predate the late medieval rebuilding of the church, and may even have been brought here from elsewhere.
November 24, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Daniel the prophet. One of several panels from a 14th Century Tree of Jesse, reset in the north aisle at Lowick, Northamptonshire. They predate the late medieval rebuilding of the church, and may even have been brought here from elsewhere.
This is the final week of the liturgical year, and appropriately the first readings at Mass are from the Book of Daniel, that great OT drama that prefigures the Apocalypse. Alfred Lusson's 1860 glass in Ely Cathedral, Daniel brought before Darius and imprisoned in the lions' den.
November 24, 2025 at 9:23 AM
This is the final week of the liturgical year, and appropriately the first readings at Mass are from the Book of Daniel, that great OT drama that prefigures the Apocalypse. Alfred Lusson's 1860 glass in Ely Cathedral, Daniel brought before Darius and imprisoned in the lions' den.
A detail of Henry Moore's Claydon war memorial, now in Barham church.
Barham: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/barham.htm
Claydon: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/claydon.htm
Barham: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/barham.htm
Claydon: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/claydon.htm
November 24, 2025 at 8:11 AM
A detail of Henry Moore's Claydon war memorial, now in Barham church.
Barham: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/barham.htm
Claydon: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/claydon.htm
Barham: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/barham.htm
Claydon: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/claydon.htm
A detail of Henry Moore's Claydon war memorial, now in Barham church.
Barham: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/barham.htm
Claydon: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/claydon.htm
Barham: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/barham.htm
Claydon: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/claydon.htm
November 24, 2025 at 8:11 AM
A detail of Henry Moore's Claydon war memorial, now in Barham church.
Barham: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/barham.htm
Claydon: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/claydon.htm
Barham: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/barham.htm
Claydon: www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/claydon.htm
The Claydon war memorial by Henry Moore, 1948, now at Barham, Suffolk, at the other end of the large joint village. Moore himself oversaw its transfer when Claydon church was closed in the 1970s. Barham church now serves both village, Claydon church is in the care of @TheCCT. #MemorialsMonday
November 24, 2025 at 7:48 AM
The Claydon war memorial by Henry Moore, 1948, now at Barham, Suffolk, at the other end of the large joint village. Moore himself oversaw its transfer when Claydon church was closed in the 1970s. Barham church now serves both village, Claydon church is in the care of @TheCCT. #MemorialsMonday
The Pogues Christmas single was released #OTD 3 November 1987. I loved the Pogues, saw them half a dozen times in the early/mid 1980s and 'Red Roses For Me' would easily be in my all-time Top 10 albums. But I could live quite happily if I never have to hear 'A Fairytale Of New York' again.
📷Amazon
📷Amazon
November 23, 2025 at 2:15 PM
The Pogues Christmas single was released #OTD 3 November 1987. I loved the Pogues, saw them half a dozen times in the early/mid 1980s and 'Red Roses For Me' would easily be in my all-time Top 10 albums. But I could live quite happily if I never have to hear 'A Fairytale Of New York' again.
📷Amazon
📷Amazon
I was struck rereading 'The Twits' the other day what a perfect, tight little book it is. I think it's the only one of his children's books that doesn't have children in it, other than the brief episode of the four unnamed ones who get stuck in the tree. Perhaps it isn't really a children's book!
PERSON OF THE DAY. 23 November 1990. Welsh-born writer Roald Dahl died (aged 74). His often macabre books aimed at children include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and The BFG. His books have sold over 250 million copies worldwide.
November 23, 2025 at 10:38 AM
I was struck rereading 'The Twits' the other day what a perfect, tight little book it is. I think it's the only one of his children's books that doesn't have children in it, other than the brief episode of the four unnamed ones who get stuck in the tree. Perhaps it isn't really a children's book!
'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom'
The Crucifixion. Flemish, 1639 in Peterhouse Chapel, Cambridge. Gestas the unrepentant thief averts his eyes, but Dismas the repentant thief looks at Christ and acknowledges his Kingship. Today's the feast of Christ the King.
The Crucifixion. Flemish, 1639 in Peterhouse Chapel, Cambridge. Gestas the unrepentant thief averts his eyes, but Dismas the repentant thief looks at Christ and acknowledges his Kingship. Today's the feast of Christ the King.
November 23, 2025 at 8:30 AM
'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom'
The Crucifixion. Flemish, 1639 in Peterhouse Chapel, Cambridge. Gestas the unrepentant thief averts his eyes, but Dismas the repentant thief looks at Christ and acknowledges his Kingship. Today's the feast of Christ the King.
The Crucifixion. Flemish, 1639 in Peterhouse Chapel, Cambridge. Gestas the unrepentant thief averts his eyes, but Dismas the repentant thief looks at Christ and acknowledges his Kingship. Today's the feast of Christ the King.
Christ the King seated in Majesty with Creation, Gospel and Apocalypse scenes in glass by Douglas Strachan, 1931 in Paisley Abbey. Today's the feast of Christ the King, first instituted by Pope Pius XI as the culmination of the Jubilee Year 1925, a century ago this year.
#StainedGlassSunday
#StainedGlassSunday
November 23, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Christ the King seated in Majesty with Creation, Gospel and Apocalypse scenes in glass by Douglas Strachan, 1931 in Paisley Abbey. Today's the feast of Christ the King, first instituted by Pope Pius XI as the culmination of the Jubilee Year 1925, a century ago this year.
#StainedGlassSunday
#StainedGlassSunday
Today's the solemnity of Christ the King, patronal feast of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool. Consecrated in 1967, designed by Frederick Gibberd, the lantern glass by John Piper and Patrick Reyntiens forms the largest single expanse of coloured glass in the British Isles.
November 23, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Today's the solemnity of Christ the King, patronal feast of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool. Consecrated in 1967, designed by Frederick Gibberd, the lantern glass by John Piper and Patrick Reyntiens forms the largest single expanse of coloured glass in the British Isles.
Miriam and St Cecilia playing together at Risby, Suffolk, 1880s, by Clayton & Bell, perhaps? in 2008, Pippa Blackall produced contemporary versions of the two women musicians for the stairs to the music school in St Edmundsbury Cathedral a couple of miles off.
November 22, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Miriam and St Cecilia playing together at Risby, Suffolk, 1880s, by Clayton & Bell, perhaps? in 2008, Pippa Blackall produced contemporary versions of the two women musicians for the stairs to the music school in St Edmundsbury Cathedral a couple of miles off.
And so autumn becomes winter. The great copper beech in Holywells Park.
November 22, 2025 at 12:56 PM
And so autumn becomes winter. The great copper beech in Holywells Park.
Today's the feast of St Cecilia, patron saint of music, here in glass by Harry Ellis Wooldridge, 1873 at Thursford, Norfolk. There's a link to Voces8 singing 'Hymn to St Cecilia' by Benjamin Britten (born #OTD 22 November 1913) in the quoted thread, his setting of WH Auden's poem. 1/3
November 22, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Today's the feast of St Cecilia, patron saint of music, here in glass by Harry Ellis Wooldridge, 1873 at Thursford, Norfolk. There's a link to Voces8 singing 'Hymn to St Cecilia' by Benjamin Britten (born #OTD 22 November 1913) in the quoted thread, his setting of WH Auden's poem. 1/3
'Blessed Cecilia, appear in visions
To all musicians, appear and inspire:
Translated Daughter, come down and startle
Composing mortals with immortal fire'
-WH Auden
Today's the feast of St Cecilia, martyr and patron saint of music. Glass by Pippa Blackall, 2008, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Suffolk.
To all musicians, appear and inspire:
Translated Daughter, come down and startle
Composing mortals with immortal fire'
-WH Auden
Today's the feast of St Cecilia, martyr and patron saint of music. Glass by Pippa Blackall, 2008, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Suffolk.
November 22, 2025 at 7:00 AM
'Blessed Cecilia, appear in visions
To all musicians, appear and inspire:
Translated Daughter, come down and startle
Composing mortals with immortal fire'
-WH Auden
Today's the feast of St Cecilia, martyr and patron saint of music. Glass by Pippa Blackall, 2008, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Suffolk.
To all musicians, appear and inspire:
Translated Daughter, come down and startle
Composing mortals with immortal fire'
-WH Auden
Today's the feast of St Cecilia, martyr and patron saint of music. Glass by Pippa Blackall, 2008, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Suffolk.
Edward Ardizzone was born in what's now Vietnam in 1900. In 1905 his mother brought him and two siblings back to England. They lived in Corder Road, Ipswich. He spent a lot of his spare time in Ipswich Docks drawing boats and talking to sailors, where a plaque on Common Quay remembers him.
November 21, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Edward Ardizzone was born in what's now Vietnam in 1900. In 1905 his mother brought him and two siblings back to England. They lived in Corder Road, Ipswich. He spent a lot of his spare time in Ipswich Docks drawing boats and talking to sailors, where a plaque on Common Quay remembers him.
The other half of Edward Ardizzone's Faversham reredos depicts the Visitation. Elizabeth greets Mary, both of them pregnant, while Zechariah looks on. The angel of the Annunciation peeps around the corner.
November 21, 2025 at 9:39 AM
The other half of Edward Ardizzone's Faversham reredos depicts the Visitation. Elizabeth greets Mary, both of them pregnant, while Zechariah looks on. The angel of the Annunciation peeps around the corner.
Today's the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin. Edward Ardizzone's 1930s reredos at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Faversham, Kent shows the young Mary climbing the temple steps.
The story appears in the proto-evangelium of St James which recounts the birth and early life of Mary.
The story appears in the proto-evangelium of St James which recounts the birth and early life of Mary.
November 21, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Today's the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin. Edward Ardizzone's 1930s reredos at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Faversham, Kent shows the young Mary climbing the temple steps.
The story appears in the proto-evangelium of St James which recounts the birth and early life of Mary.
The story appears in the proto-evangelium of St James which recounts the birth and early life of Mary.