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Statue of St Christopher, Pilgrim, or Constable
sculpture | stonework
stone
At the west end of this side was a narrow doorway, the western jamb of which was formed by a stone figure, representing a pilgrim holding a staff. The wretched manner in which the figure is sculptured has given rise to many absurd theories concerning it, which it is needless to repeat. The bands round the ancles are worthy of remark. They occur, in a similar manner, on a sculptured figure of a pilgrim in Lincoln Cathedral, where they are seen to be for the purpose of keeping on the boots by tying the upper leathers round the ancles. [Hexham Abbey, Monograph by C C Hodges, 1888, p.52]
A rudely carved figure of St Christopher, forming the jamb of the doorway, stands at the south-west corner. This is … clothed in a long loose gown buttoned down the front and falling open below the knees. The hose are folded around the ankles and the feet are bare. The head is covered by a hood falling upon the shoulders and a stout staff is held by both hands diagonally across the body. Upon the head are remains of carving which probably represent part of the robe of the child Christ whose figure is now destroyed. [C H Hunter Blair, Arch.Æl. Ser.IV vol.7 p.123–4]
mediæval
1864: “… an uncouth statue of a man in an erect posture, about 3 feet 8 inches high, now removed into the aisle of the north transept.” [Raine, Preface II p.lxiv]
Between c1870 and 1908, when the Leschman chantry [HEXAB213] stood in the north bay of the South Transept aisle with its present east end open and facing west, the statue stood in the opening.
H 1370 | base W 370 (N–S) | D 400 (E–W)
on ground W of Leschman Chantry
Chancel/Presbytery