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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture We have four examples in Wales (that I know of) of this intriguing iconographic device. Two (badly photographed by me- but they are difficult to get at) in Llandaff Cathedral, under the feet of effigies of the Mathew family - http://timezone.newport.ac.uk/sleeping-bedesmen.html And one in Abergavenny - http://www.gtj.org.uk/item.php?lang=en&id=7836&t=1 The fourth is not on a tomb but on a roof corbel in Llanynys in Denbighshire. I am writing up a British Archaeological Association conference paper in which I referred to these bedesmen as a side issue. During the discussion afterwards someone mentioned that he had a list of all other examples in England. I thought I remembered who it was, but I remembered wrong! Does anyone know who it might have been - and does anyone out there have any thoughts on possible European parallels? Peter Lord has suggested that the Welsh examples may be an individual craftsman's trademark. This seems to me unlikely, as they are so varied stylistically, but I think a workshop trademark might be more likely. I would like to look at some other examples to see how wide the variation is. Maddy Dr Madeleine Gray, in the foothills of God's golden county of Gwent School of Humanities and Science, University of Wales, Newport Caerleon Campus, PO Box 179, Newport NP18 3YG. Tel: +44 (0)1633.432675 'A good thesis is like a pig. You don't throw anything away, and even after decades you can still re-use it.' (Umberto Eco) History at University of Wales, Newport: http://timezone.newport.ac.uk Gwent County History Association website: http://gwent-county-history-association.newport.ac.uk Cistercian Way: http://cistercian-way.newport.ac.uk ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html