Corpus of the misericords at St Mary’s, Ripple
N01 |
January: two men wooding, i.e. Collecting dead branches of trees. Supporters - Conventional leaves. |
N02 |
February: Hedging and Ditching. One man is hammering a wedge to split a hedge-stake, the other (whose right leg is broken off) holds a spade handle. Between them is a bundle of stakes. Supporters - Conventional leaves. |
N03 |
March: Sowing. With his right hand a man is broadcasting seed, holding a basket with his left; a horse walks behind pulling a harrow to cover the seed. Supporters- Conventional leaves. |
N04 |
April: Bird-scaring. One man waves a flag which he holds in his right hand. Supporters - Conventional leaves. |
N05 |
May: Blessing the crops at Rogation tide. In the carving is shown the figures of St. Mary with a large bouquet of flowers in each hand. This figure was carried round the fields. Supporters - Conventional leaves. |
N06 |
June: Hawking A Mounted man with which was no doubt a hawk on his wrist but which has been broken off. Supporters - Conventional leaves. |
N07 |
July: Thought to be Lammas [Loaf-Mass] Eve at the manorial bakery. The mouth of the oven and a loaf are shown. Supporters - Conventional leaves. |
N08 |
August: Reaping. Man with a sickle and woman with a crook. Supporters - Conventional leaves. |
N09 |
September: removing corn for malting. Two men hold partly filled sacks and a long corn bin as they kneel behind a pile of grain. Supporters - Conventional leaves. |
N10 |
October: A man is beating down acorns [which are shown as very large] for pig-food. The man’s stick has been broken off. Supporters - Conventional leaves. |
N11 |
November: Pig-killing. A man holds a squealing pig by the ear, another by the tail, while another pig squeals. Supporters - Conventional leaves. |
N12 |
December: Man and a wife on a curved settle by the fire on which is a pot. The man wears a hood and thick fingerless gloves; the woman is spinning. Supporters - Conventional leaves. |
X01 |
Day: A sun, a face with flames round it. Supporters - Conventional leaves. |
X02 |
Warmth: another sun. Supporters - Conventional leaves. |
X03 |
The Moon: the phases of which were regarded as an indication of when to sow. Supporters - Conventional leaves. |
X04 |
Rain: Aquarius the sign of the zodiac called the water-carrier. |