(no subject)

[endlessrarities]

I should have ridden the bike today, but instead I went out with J on a chocolate-buying spree in Paisley.  Well, it is Valentine's Day on Monday, and I promised J that I would buy him some chocolate!

Naturally, a trip to Paisley turned into a fieldtrip.  We paid a visit to the marvellous medieval abbey, which I've featured very briefly in previous posts, and which I'll introduce in greater detail next week.  Unfortunately, we got waylaid by the intricacies of the architecture in the nave today: due to the pressures of getting back to the car in time to avoid the Yellow Peril/Blue Meanies (who were out in force).  As a result, we didn't have time to explore the chancel or the side chapels. 

Here's a view of the abbey in all its glory.  It's a grim-looking thing, and the inevitable West of Scotland weather does it no favours.  The blackened stonework probably results from centuries of industrial grime - the old cotton mills aren't that far away as the crow flies.

 

Never mind.  In true Scots' tradition, entry to this ancient monument is still free (I paid them a donation nonethess), so I'm sure I can afford a return trip in the near future.  As an added bonus, we got two free home-made cakes each with our coffee at the cafe.  As a result, I had a two course cake fest: cheese sconelet for starters (it was a very small scone, but it tasted divine!), and a tasty Victoria sponge for afters (again, small but tasty!)

I had ulterior motives when I visited the abbey today.  Of course, it's always nice to wander through some well-preserved medieval architecture, but... Since I featured the 'Dumb Proctor' last week, I thought I'd devote some time to a more well-preserved example of medieval carved stonework from the west of Scotland.

The Barochan Cross used to stand on a hilltop near the modern village of Houston, but it was brought indoors for its own protection a few years back.  According to the information held in RCAHMS, it forms part of the Strathclyde series of early medieval carved stones, and may date back to the 8th century AD:-

The carved 'Celtic' interlace in the cross arms are indication of its early origins, and like the 'Dumb Proctor,' it bears a mounted figure in the lower portion of the shaft, though this particular horseman is a warrior holding a spear - you can see the spearshaft clearly in the photograph.  An illustration of the stone, made before the elements took their toll upon the surface, is very helpfully provided near the stone's location.  Here it is, showing the extent of the intricate decoration:-

 

And finally, a detail of the surviving knotwork on one of the cross-arms:-

 

Though the surface is now very worn and the decoration much obscured, it's certainly in better nick than the unfortunate 'Dumb Proctor'...

Wales plays Scotland tonight at rugby.  It's an important day for me: the outcome of this match dictates my nationality for the coming year!  I've been Welsh for a few years now, but everything might change this evening.  Will I be watching it?  No, because I'm going horse-riding instead.   Besides, I'm not really bothered who wins, as long as they both play well!