Published September 2003
The Oaken Myths of Post-Conquest Britain
Symbolic Carvings from 1066
Where
most other writers have contented themselves with referring to the work of
predecessors in their field and have 
relied
on their conclusions, Thirlie Grundy has not done so. Her direct approach,
based on her discoveries when drawing the carvings themselves, has led her
to ask questions not answered by previous writers on the subject. She has
looked to other and often much earlier sources - worrying out the details
to get to the root of meaning from which the carvers worked. This approach
has led to much highly original revelation and much new thinking which has
revealed depths and breadths of interpretation not seen before with regard
to these astonishing carvings and their creators. A prime example of Thirlie
Grundy’s method is illustrated by her interpretation of misericord North 1
in Carlisle Cathedral. She could have accepted the local explanation of An
English dragon swallowing a Scotsman in a kilt (a much-repeated interpretation)
but, knowing that the same carving was in Gloucester, Worcester and St. David’s
in Pembroke, this explanation was clearly inadequate. On looking for further
information to explain what she saw, the result is a detailed and logical
exposition which sheds light not only on the carving’s meaning but gives an
insight into the mind and knowledge of the carver himself, showing him to
be a much more sophisticated thinker than could have been supposed by the
hitherto commonly accepted explanations. This exercise has been repeated time
and time again by Thirlie Grundy for carvings all over the country and in
this way she has illuminated our understanding of these fascinating carvings
and has broadened the scope of their interpretation. Thirlie Grundy has opened
up the field in this area in a way which is quite unique, and has revealed
to us a fascinating and rich depth of understanding of the minds and intentions
of those carvers whose identities are now lost and who, despite their anonymity,
have left a rich legacy of work which is only now perhaps being understood.
Her research contributes another chapter to our knowledge of the men who laboured
on our ancient buildings and deepens our respect for their work. She has opened
a window to a new view of our English heritage.
‘2003, Joyce M.Tebbutt, N.D.D.,A.T.D.
ISBN 0 9537203 8 1 (£9.99) A5 format, 144 pages, about 300 illustrations, softback, perfect bound
Available from this website or direct from the author:
Thirlie Grundy, The Studio, 11 Lodore Drive, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 7SG
