Blanche Mortimer

St Bartholomew's, Much Marcle has a chancel that goes on for ever and a high altar that is almost out of earshot of the nave. There are several green men doing their thing on the tops of pillars and no fewer than four tombs with effigies- three of them medieval. The effigy of Blanche Mortimer (the Mortimers were among the power brokers of the Welsh Marches) is supremely lovely- a masterpiece of 14th century art- refined, restrained, deeply spiritual. Why do we make a fuss about Michelangelo's David and ignore this? The world is mad.

More From Much Marcle

Much Marcle also has one of the finest collections of 18th century headstones I've ever come accross.

The third of these is really strange- with the big scowling head and the little scowling head and the bold abstract patterning. I've never seen anything like it before.