Guide to the Corbels at Kilpeck Church
Kilpeck Church in Herefordshire is widely regarded as the finest example of Romanesque carving in England. Splendid carvings dating from about 1140 surround the west window, south door, and chancel arch inside. All draw their themes from a variety of sources and the subjects of many carvings remain a mystery. The same is true of the huge collection of corbels that decorate the roofline around the entire church.
Below is a photographic guide to these splendid examples of medieval art, along with descriptions and some speculations as to their meaning. Very few of these interpretations are original to me; most are drawn directly from the sources listed at the bottom. Click any image to enlarge and see our Kilpeck Photo Gallery for all photos of the corbels and church in large sizes.
| # | Photo | Comments and Location | # | Photo | Comments and Location |
| 1 |  |
One bird pecking another, a popular theme among the Herefordshire School. Might be a pelican, quail or kite. South nave, far west. | 2 |  |
Female head. Maybe Eve? Woman would be placed before Man because of the prominent Celtic concept of Mother Earth. South nave. |
| 3 |  |
Human-lion male head. Maybe Adam? South nave. | 4 |  |
Interlace design of snakes with tails in mouths, probably symbolizing eternity. South nave. |
| 5 | Missing. Apparently unacceptable to the Victorian lady who had some corbels in this area removed. Maybe Adam and Eve naked (before the Fall), to go with #10? South nave. | 6 | Missing. Apparently unacceptable to the Victorian lady who had some corbels in this area removed. South nave. | ||
| 7 | Damaged. Two figures apparently fighting. Maybe Cain and Abel? South nave. | 8 |  |
Agnus Dei (Lamb of God), but the lamb looks more like a horse. The horse was of great importance in Celtic life. See also #40. South nave. | |
| 9 | Missing. South nave. | 10 | Damaged. Maybe Adam and Eve clothed to go with #5. South nave. | ||
| 11 |  |
Man with lined face, heavy eyebrows, and lion features. South nave. | 12 |  |
Human-lion head with large wrinkled eyes and round ears. South nave. |
| 13 |  |
Interlace design with no snakes. South nave. | 14 |  |
Human head with face lines and lion-like mane. South nave. |
| 15 |  |
Interlace design with leaves. South nave. | 16 |  |
Ram's head. South nave. |
| 17 |  |
Lion head. South nave. | 18 | Missing. South nave. | |
| 19 | Missing. East end of south nave. | 20 | Missing. West end of south chancel. | ||
| 21 |  |
Animal head with pointy ears. South chancel. | 22 |  |
Rosette. South chancel. |
| 23 |  |
Snake eating something? South chancel. | 24 | Missing. South chancel. | |
| 25 | Missing. South chancel. | 26 | Missing. South chancel. | ||
| 27 |  |
Pig. Crude carving for this important aspect at the southeast end of the chancel. The shape of the eyes are different from those elsewhere. South chancel. | 28 |  |
The famous Sheela na gig, an "exhibitionist" figure which can be seen on numerous other churches of the same period. Interpretations are many, and include: the unattractiveness of lust, a Celtic fertility symbol, or a goddess. West end of south apse. |
| 29 |  |
Cat eating something? South apse. | 30 | Missing. South apse. | |
| 31 |  |
Muzzled bear. South apse. | 32 |  |
Man with beard and mustache or face lines. South apse. |
| 33 |  |
Possibly an ibex from the Bestiary, or a deer hanging upside down after the hunt. South apse. | 34 |  |
Cartoon-like dog and rabbit. Perhaps representing the hunt, although they look like friends! South apse. |
| 35 |  |
Damaged human face. South apse. | 36 |  |
A bird-like beast devouring a man. South apse. |
| 37 |  |
Two birds with something in their beaks. Start of a salvation narrative? If so, may portray Innocence. East apse. | 38 |  |
Part of a salvation narrative? If so, may portray the Devil. East apse. |
| 39 |  |
Haggard-looking lion-man. If part of a salvation narrative, may portray the Devil's effect on man. East apse. | 40 |  |
"Equus Dei" (Agnus Dei with the lamb replaced by a horse) at the center of the east end. May represent the redeeming Christ as part of the salvation narrative. East apse. |
| 41 |  |
Part of a salvation narrative? May portray a happier man after redemption. East apse. | 42 |  |
Part of a salvation narrative? May depict a dolphin, which is a bearer of souls over the waters of death. East apse. |
| 43 |  |
Corbels 43-48 seem to represent the Fair. This one is a ram. North apse. | 44 |  |
Part of the Fair theme. A bear. North apse. |
| 45 |  |
Part of the Fair theme. A man playing a rebec (ancient stringed instrument). North apse. | 46 |  |
Part of the Fair theme. Another one with multiple interpretations: dancers, wrestlers, homosexual lovers, or Siamese twins as part of a freak show. North apse. |
| 47 |  |
Part of the Fair theme. A pig grasped by a man around its neck, representing the contest in which whoever could catch a greased pig could keep it. North apse. | 48 |  |
Part of the Fair theme. A tumbler or juggler, in a typical pose seen in southern France and Spain along the pilgrim routes. North apse. |
| 49 |  |
Wolf-like animal head. North apse. | 50 |  |
Human head with long neck, O-shaped mouth and no hair. North apse. |
| 51 |  |
Bird-like beast devouring a man. North apse. | 52 |  |
Partly missing side view of an animal. North chancel. |
| 53 |  |
Onion-shaped human head with no nose. The corbels in this section are crude work in a less important place, and may have been carved by apprentices and possibly at a later date. North chancel. | 54 |  |
Head with straight hair low on the forehead. North chancel. |
| 55 |  |
Bald head making a "kissy face." North chancel. | 56 |  |
A woman. North chancel. |
| 57 |  |
Human head with angled brows, mustache and triangle on forehead. North chancel. | 58 |  |
Head with straight hair high on the forehead. North chancel. |
| 59 |  |
Human head with mustache and triangle on forehead. North chancel. | 60 | Damaged. Possibly Eve. The hair is typically Celtic and she could represent Brigantia, an important Celtic goddess. North nave. | |
| 61 |  |
A majestic human-lion head with face lines. Possibly Adam. North nave. | 62 |  |
A bird, maybe the one sent from the Ark. North nave. |
| 63 |  |
Stylized horse with reins? North nave. | 64 |  |
North nave. |
| 65 |  |
A deer. North nave. | 66 |  |
North nave. |
| 67 |  |
North nave. | 68 | North nave. | |
| 69 |  |
North nave. | 70 |  |
Two fishes, one apparently without scales. North nave. |
| 71 |  |
Human head. North nave. | 72 |  |
A horse in reins. North nave. |
| 73 |  |
Bird. North nave. | 74 | Hare. North nave. | |
| 75 |  |
Human head with round hat (or hair) and neat beard and mustache. North nave. | 76 |  |
Damaged. An interlaced snake. North nave. |
| 77 |  |
Interlace. North nave. | 78 |  |
The carvings of the west side are of high quality. Human head with face lines and straight hair. North end of west front. |
| 79 |  |
Human head with face lines and straight hair. West front. | 80 | Missing. West front. | |
| 81 |  |
Ram's head with curled horns. West front. | 82 |  |
Human head. West front. |
| 83 |  |
Head of a fish or eel? Very large eyes, flat mouth and wrinkled neck. West front. | 84 |  |
Animal head. West front. |
| 85 |  |
Bird or duck. West front. | 86 |  |
Knot? West front. |
| 87 |  |
Ram's head. West front. | 88 |  |
Human head with face lines and curly hair. West front. |
| 89 |  |
Human head with face lines and curly hair. South end of west front. |
Article Sources
- Personal visit (November 1, 2007).
- James Bailey, The Parish Church of St Mary & St David at Kilpeck (2000). Excellent booklet purchased at the church.
- A short tour round the corbels. Printed sheet purchased at the church.
- Simon Jenkins, England's Thousand Best Churches (Penguin Books, 2000), 270.
- Kilpeck Church and Castle - Hereford Pages
- Kilpeck Church - by Peter Evans
