Books by Peter Poyntz-Wright

St Luke, Brent Knoll

The churches of Somerset contain a wealth of carved benchends dating from the hundred years preceding the Reformation, c. 1450-1550. This book provides the first full examination of the animated benchends, and gives a detailed analysis of all the important carvings and of a representative selection of the numerous floral designs. The traditional and symbolic imagery of the benchends is discussed and illustrated with striking black and white photographs.

Church benchends offered a place where late-medieval society could express decorative ideas widely and vividly. The Somerset benchends give enormous insight into the rural life of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

Some of the churches featured include: Bishop's Lydeard, North Cadbury, Stogursey, Bishop's Hull, Hatch Beauchamp, Barwick, Lyng, Alford, Brent Knoll, East Brent, Othery, Donyatt, Cothelstone, Monksilver, Bicknoller, Crowcombe, Trull, Spaxton, Kingston St Mary, Cheddon Fitzpaine and many more.