| Revision as of 07:54, 8 December 2024 editKJP1 (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers77,173 edits np - will be Start shortly | Latest revision as of 03:35, 15 December 2024 edit undoJohnbod (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, IP block exemptions, Rollbackers280,708 edits lks etc - surely they are medieval lions? Pretty impossible as A-S sculpture | ||
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| {{short description|Grade II* listed statues in Cumbria, United Kingdom}} | {{short description|Grade II* listed statues in Cumbria, United Kingdom}} | ||
| {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}} | ||
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| | designation4_number = 1145532 | | designation4_number = 1145532 | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| The '''Dacre Bears''' are four sculptures, likely of ] date, which stand in the ] of the ] in the village of ], ], England. Their date of construction is uncertain and their purpose is unknown. The statues are heavily eroded. Each is a ]. | The '''Dacre Bears''' are four sculptures, likely of ] date, which stand in the ] of the ] in the village of ], ], England. Their date of construction is uncertain and their purpose is unknown. The statues are heavily ]. Each is a ]. | ||
| ==History and description== | ==History and description== | ||
| ] dates the Dacre Bears to the ] period and records them as each standing about 4 ft high and carved from ], which is now heavily ].<ref name="auto">{{NHLE|num=252583|desc=Carved Bear north-east of the Church of St Andrew|grade=II*|access-date=8 December 2024}}</ref> It suggests that their present placement is original, at each of the four corners of the medieval churchyard.<ref name="auto2">{{NHLE|num=1252582|desc=Carved Bear south-east of the Church of St Andrew|grade=II*|access-date=8 December 2024}}</ref>{{efn|An alternative suggestion, drawing on the interpretation that the sculptures show lions, rather than bears, is that they were ] and may have originally been sited at the adjacent ].{{sfn|Donaghy|Laidler|2001|p=71}}}}{{efn|The ] holds a set of four animalistic heraldry devices, the ] Beasts. Depicting a ], a ], a bull and a dolphin, they originally decorated the ] at ].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.vandaimages.com/2006BK2210-The-four-heraldic-Dacre-Beasts-The-Dacre-Gryphon.html |title=The Dacre Beasts|publisher=]|access-date=8 December 2024}}</ref>}} The bears were first studied in the 18th century by ], ] who was also a keen amateur ]. It was Nicolson who first deemed the sculptures to represent bears, suggesting they were a ] showing the ] emblem of the ]. However, the statues long predate the emblem.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ullswaterheritage.org/locations/dacre-church|title=Dacre Church|publisher=Friends of the Ullswater Way|access-date=8 December 2024}}</ref> In the 19th century the bears were studied and described by ], another local antiquarian, who also served as the ] of the ].<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://dacrechurch.com/?page_id=31|title=The Dacre Bears|publisher=Church of St Andrew's, Dacre|date=3 January 2015|access-date=8 December 2024}}</ref> Ferguson suggested that the statues tell a story. Beginning with the bear in the north-west corner of the churchyard and moving south-west, south-east and finally north-east, Ferguson contended that the first sculpture represented a bear in repose; the second, the bear turning its head as a small, cat-like, animal attacks it by climbing onto its back; the third a struggle between the two; and the fourth, the bear, victorious and replete, with a satisfied smile on its face having overcome and eaten its enemy.<ref name="auto1"/> A recent archaeological survey disputes Historic England's dating, suggesting instead that the sculptures predate the ] and may represent evidence of a ] religious site.<ref name="auto3"/> Close study of the fourth sculpture has also called into question the identification of the statues as bears. The best-preserved of the quartet, it appears to have a ] and a tail, suggesting that the statues may have been intended to depict lions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=2146412182|first=Nicola|last=Didsbury|title=Mystery of the Dacre Bears|publisher=]|date=24 May 2005|access-date=8 December 2024}}</ref>{{efn|Mathew Hyde, in his ''Cumbria'' ], also suggests that the fourth statue resembles a lion.{{sfn|Hyde|Pevsner|2010|p=320}}}} | |||
| ⚫ | Matthew Hyde, in his ''Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness'' volume in the ] series, revised and reissued in 2010, describes the bears as; "sinister, ]-like creatures, their age unknowable, as is their identity - and their meaning".{{sfn|Hyde|Pevsner|2010|p=320}} The bears have individual ].<ref |
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| ⚫ | Matthew Hyde, in his ''Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness'' volume in the ] series, revised and reissued in 2010, describes the bears as; "sinister, ]-like creatures" and concludes, "their age is unknowable, as is their identity - and their meaning".{{sfn|Hyde|Pevsner|2010|p=320}} The bears have individual ].<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto2"/><ref>{{NHLE|num=12621971|desc=Carved Bear south-west of the Church of St Andrew|grade=II*|access-date=8 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{NHLE|num=1145532|desc=Carved Bear north-west of the Church of St Andrew|grade=II*|access-date=8 December 2024}}</ref> | ||
| ==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
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| ==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
| * {{cite book | |||
| |first1=Peter|last1=Donaghy|first2=John|last2=Laidler | |||
| |title=Lakeland Church Walks | |||
| |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ohbf0eNAS5cC&dq=Dacre+Bears&pg=PA72 | |||
| |year=2001 | |||
| |location=Wilmslow, Cheshire | |||
| |publisher=Sigma Press | |||
| |isbn=978-1-850-58761-3 | |||
| }} | |||
| * {{cite book | * {{cite book | ||
| |first1=Matthew|last1=Hyde|first2=Nikolaus|last2=Pevsner|author2-link=Nikolaus Pevsner | |first1=Matthew|last1=Hyde|first2=Nikolaus|last2=Pevsner|author2-link=Nikolaus Pevsner | ||
| Line 63: | Line 73: | ||
| |isbn=978-0-300-12663-1 | |isbn=978-0-300-12663-1 | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| ==See also== | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
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Latest revision as of 03:35, 15 December 2024
Grade II* listed statues in Cumbria, United Kingdom
| Dacre Bears | |
|---|---|
 One of the bears in the churchyard of St Andrew's | |
| Type | Statues |
| Location | Dacre, Cumbria |
| Coordinates | 54°37′56″N 2°50′15″W / 54.6321°N 2.8376°W / 54.6321; -2.8376 |
| Built | Middle Ages, though possibly earlier |
| Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | Carved Bear north-east of the Church of St Andrew |
| Designated | 24 October 1986 |
| Reference no. | 252583 |
| Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | Carved Bear south-east of the Church of St Andrew |
| Designated | 24 October 1986 |
| Reference no. | 1252582 |
| Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | Carved Bear south-west of the Church of St Andrew |
| Designated | 24 October 1986 |
| Reference no. | 12621971 |
| Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | Carved Bear north-west of the Church of St Andrew |
| Designated | 24 October 1986 |
| Reference no. | 1145532 |
  Location of Dacre Bears in Cumbria | |
The Dacre Bears are four sculptures, likely of medieval date, which stand in the churchyard of the Church of St Andrew in the village of Dacre, Cumbria, England. Their date of construction is uncertain and their purpose is unknown. The statues are heavily eroded. Each is a Grade II* listed structure.
History and description
Historic England dates the Dacre Bears to the medieval period and records them as each standing about 4 ft high and carved from Red sandstone, which is now heavily weathered. It suggests that their present placement is original, at each of the four corners of the medieval churchyard. The bears were first studied in the 18th century by William Nicolson, Bishop of Carlisle who was also a keen amateur antiquary. It was Nicolson who first deemed the sculptures to represent bears, suggesting they were a heraldic device showing the Bear and Ragged Staff emblem of the Earls of Warwick. However, the statues long predate the emblem. In the 19th century the bears were studied and described by Richard Saul Ferguson, another local antiquarian, who also served as the chancellor of the Diocese of Carlisle. Ferguson suggested that the statues tell a story. Beginning with the bear in the north-west corner of the churchyard and moving south-west, south-east and finally north-east, Ferguson contended that the first sculpture represented a bear in repose; the second, the bear turning its head as a small, cat-like, animal attacks it by climbing onto its back; the third a struggle between the two; and the fourth, the bear, victorious and replete, with a satisfied smile on its face having overcome and eaten its enemy. A recent archaeological survey disputes Historic England's dating, suggesting instead that the sculptures predate the Anglo-Saxon period and may represent evidence of a pagan religious site. Close study of the fourth sculpture has also called into question the identification of the statues as bears. The best-preserved of the quartet, it appears to have a mane and a tail, suggesting that the statues may have been intended to depict lions.
Matthew Hyde, in his Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness volume in the Pevsner Buildings of England series, revised and reissued in 2010, describes the bears as; "sinister, troll-like creatures" and concludes, "their age is unknowable, as is their identity - and their meaning". The bears have individual Grade II* listings.
Gallery
-
First bear
-
Second bear
-
Third bear
-
Fourth bear
Notes
- An alternative suggestion, drawing on the interpretation that the sculptures show lions, rather than bears, is that they were heraldic devices and may have originally been sited at the adjacent Dacre Castle.
- The Victoria and Albert Museum holds a set of four animalistic heraldry devices, the Dacre Beasts. Depicting a griffin, a ram, a bull and a dolphin, they originally decorated the great hall at Naworth Castle.
- Mathew Hyde, in his Cumbria Pevsner, also suggests that the fourth statue resembles a lion.
References
- ^ Historic England. "Carved Bear north-east of the Church of St Andrew (Grade II*) (252583)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "Carved Bear south-east of the Church of St Andrew (Grade II*) (1252582)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- Donaghy & Laidler 2001, p. 71.
- "The Dacre Beasts". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ "Dacre Church". Friends of the Ullswater Way. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ "The Dacre Bears". Church of St Andrew's, Dacre. 3 January 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- Didsbury, Nicola (24 May 2005). "Mystery of the Dacre Bears". The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ Hyde & Pevsner 2010, p. 320.
- Historic England. "Carved Bear south-west of the Church of St Andrew (Grade II*) (12621971)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- Historic England. "Carved Bear north-west of the Church of St Andrew (Grade II*) (1145532)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
Sources
- Donaghy, Peter; Laidler, John (2001). Lakeland Church Walks. Wilmslow, Cheshire: Sigma Press. ISBN 978-1-850-58761-3.
- Hyde, Matthew; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2010). Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness. Pevsner Buildings of England. New Haven, US and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-12663-1.