Misericords are one of the hidden art treasures of cathedrals, abbey churches, and some parish churches. A misericord is a small ledge underneath a choir seat, which helped monks to stand for long periods. The area beneath the ledge was commonly carved, sometimes with religious themes but more often with charming, humorous, and sometimes vulgar scenes of daily medieval life and popular proverbs. Below is a working catalogue of some of the best places to enjoy misericords across Europe, many linked to photos and explanations of subjects. There are about 750 figurative misericords in 16 churches Portugal and Spain, 1,000 misericords in 200 churches in France, and over 3,000 misericords in Britain.
| Image | Location and Link | Dates | Number* | Comments |
| Belgium | ||||
| Bruges Cathedral | ||||
| Hoogstraten | Includes an interesting repetition, in which a man gapes before an oven on a misericord and also on an arm-rest. | |||
| Britain | ||||
| Beverly Minster | 68 | |||
| Boston Church Lincolnshire |
62 | |||
| Carlisle Cathedral | 46 | |||
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Ely Cathedral Cambridgeshire |
c.1340 | 65 | Original misericords with fine collection of narrative scenes, with the supporters carved as part of the scene. Carved arm rests and upper parts. The choir is accessible, but the misericords are roped off. Subjects include saints as well as an assorted company of animals, monks, knights, hunters, kings, men and women. Illustrated guide |
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Exeter Cathedral | c.1240 | 50 | The oldest set of misericords in Britain and some of the best. A full list with fairly poor photos is available on the official website. Sadly, only the famous elephant misericord is on public display, but the more accessible arm rests and bench ends also have fine figurative carvings. |
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Fairford Church Gloucestershire |
c.1300 | 13 | Originally from Cirencester Abbey. There is a total of 14 - one was stolen and replaced with a reproduction in 2004. The man at the gift shop kindly turned on more lights for me and mentioned better lighting in the church is on its way in early 2008. Subjects depict village life humorously, including a drunken man and wife beating her husband. |
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Gloucester Cathedral Gloucestershire |
1350 | 46 | A fine set and accessible to visitors. A cathedral guide pointed them out to us, helped by a flashlight, and explained some of their subjects. We have photos of about eight of them in the Gloucester Cathedral Photo Gallery. Arm rests are plain. |
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Great Malvern Priory Worcestershire |
c.1460 | Excellent condition and a nearly complete set of Labors of the Months. They are related to the misericords at Worcester Cathedral. Carved arm rests, too. The choir is accessible and well-lit but I had to tip up the seats when I visited. Photos available in our Great Malvern Priory Photo Gallery. | |
| Hereford Cathedral | 40 | |||
| King's College Chapel Cambridge |
68 | |||
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Lincoln Cathedral Lincolnshire |
1300s | 92 | A set of outstanding quality and interest. Just a few are displayed (tipped up) at a time for visitors. Photos of four of them, plus some bench ends, in our Lincoln Cathedral Photo Gallery. |
| Ludlow Church Shropshire |
c.1430 | 32 | One of the most interesting collections in England. Many misericords are strongly anti-feminist, showing women with hideous grins or as devils. The supporters are also elaborately carved and form part of the scene; the poppyheads include a finely carved Pieta. | |
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Magdalen College Chapel Oxford |
c.1480 | 32 | Medieval stalls with misericords original to the chapel now displayed in the antechapel. Fully accessible and well-lit. Mostly funny human faces and animals, plus the intriguing one pictured at left. |
| New College Chapel Oxford |
62 | Choir accessible, but misericords roped off. | ||
| Ripon Yorkshire |
Some of the most interesting misericords in Britain, including mythical creatures and pigs dancing to bagpipe music. | |||
| Ripple Church Worcestershire |
Accessible, well-lit, and in good condition. Subjects include the Labors of the Months. | |||
| Salisbury Cathedral | 106 | Largest collection in England at 106 misericords, but all with the same floral design. | ||
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Holy Trinity Church Stratford Upon Avon |
1480-1520 | 26 | Good condition. Some supporters have figurative carvings. We have pictures of several of them waiting to be published. |
| St. Botolph's Church | 62 | |||
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St. David's Cathedral St Davids, Wales |
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Wells Cathedral | 64 | Only a select few on display for visitors. We have photos of four of them in our Wells Cathedral Photo Gallery. | |
| Westminster Abbey London |
In Henry VII's Chapel. Photos not allowed in Westminster Abbey. | |||
| Winchester Cathedral | c.1305 | 66 | Among the oldest in Britain. | |
| St. George's Chapel Windsor |
96 | |||
| Worcester Cathedral Worcestershire |
39 | 39 misericords of 52 (plus three modern ones for total of 42) | ||
| France | ||||
| Amiens Cathedral | Entire set focuses on the Old Testament. | |||
| Poitiers Cathedral | c.1260 | A rare example of Continental misericords with supporters. | ||
| Germany | ||||
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St. Maria Lyskirchen Cologne |
6 | Three choir stalls set in each of the side chapels. Misericords not tipped up, but accessible. Quality carvings, including an elegant fox (or dog) and a drinking man. Arm rests and bench ends have figurative carvings as well (mostly lions). | |
| Netherlands | ||||
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Oudekerk Amsterdam |
c.1480 | Humorous and often vulgar misericords illustrate proverbs and sayings, such as "Sail when the wind allows." Several scenes center around butts. Also decorative carvings and scenes of daily life. More info | |
| Spain | ||||
| Oviedo Cathedral | ||||
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Toledo Cathedral | 15th c.? | A complete set, with most edges worn smooth over the centuries. The scenes - featuring groups of animals, humans and creastures somewhere in between - are especially lively. We have photos of eight of them in our Toledo Cathedral Photo Gallery. | |
*Only original, medieval misericords are counted.
Sources
- Personal visits
- A Handbook of Medieval Misericords - online Word document by William James Shadwell
More Information
- M. D. Anderson, Misericords: Medieval Life in English Woodcarving (Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1954).
- Elaine C. Block, Corpus of Medieval Misericords: Iberia (Brepols, 2005).
- Francis Bond, Wood Carvings in English Churches: Misericords (London, 1910). Excerpt online here.
- Christa Grossinger, "English Misericords of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries and Their Relationship to Manuscript Illuminations," Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, Vol. 38 (1975), pp. 97-108.
- Malcolm Jones, "Folklore Motifs in Late Medieval Art II: Sexist Satire and Popular Punishments," Folklore, Vol. 101, No. 1 (1990), pp. 69-87.
- Dorothy Kraus, Henry Kraus, The Hidden World of Misericords (New York: George Braziller, 1975).
- G. L. Remnant, A Catalogue of Misericords in Great Britain (Oxford University Press, 1998; out of print and therefore expensive).
