March 18, 2016

Five Pugin details

 It's Friday again and time to take part in Amy's Five on Friday meme. Click the image at the bottom of the post to be taken to her site and see other people's entries.

The Catholic Church of St Giles in Cheadle, Staffordshire is a fantasy structure with a richly decorated interior and gothic-esque exterior. The design is the work of one man - Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin. Although he contributed to many well known buildings, including the Houses of Parliament, there are very few places where he had sole control of the final design. It's stunning.



Let's start with the west door, before we go inside. Aren't those rampant lions wonderful? And all that gothic detail around the door is very reminiscent of the Middle Ages, even though St Giles was built in the 1840s.
Here's another wonderful gothic detail from the exterior. I'm a sucker for a dragon and this one seems rather splendid to me.

Inside, every surface is covered in detailed decoration. This section of a pillar shows the complex letter Gs (for St Giles) incorporated in the design.

This shot shows just how much decoration the church has. No surface escapes. Every item is highly ornate and brightly coloured; painted and gilded and shaped into fantastic structures. There's a lot to take in.

And here's a part of the wall. showing how complex patterns are put side by side, adding to the myriad, contrasting styles that make up the whole. I love the colour and the cacophony and the impossibly crazy, mind blowing impression the building leaves you with.


Now click on the link below to visit Amy and her Five on Friday supporters.





19 comments:

  1. Oh Thank You! You've reminded me that this church has been on my list of places to visit for about 20 years. I even went to Cheadle last year but didn't make it to St Giles. Your pics are beautiful. Have a good weekend. x

    ReplyDelete
  2. The lions on the west door are absolutely magnificent! Hope you have a wonderful weekend

    ReplyDelete
  3. Now that really is a church I would love to see the intricate detail is amazing. Thank you for sharing. Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What an amazing building! There's so much beauty and history where you live. Thank you for sharing these lovely images.
    We have only woods and wildernesses. :) Thank you for your comment today and for the interesting link. I always hope to see hawks and buzzards, but seldom do.
    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  5. The interior is very ornate isn't it - I love the patterns on the columns. The dragon on the outside is rather special as well. xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh my what a beautiful church! The lions are very impressive, I love the red background. I like the pillars inside too, very pretty. A great five. Have a lovely weekend xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. The inside view of the church is fabulous! You visit always such wonderful places. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Five interesting images of what must be a beautiful church to go and visit. My favourite is the colourful door. Thank you for sharing the photos and information. Have a good week.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It's rather splendid isn't it? When we visited last year a friendly man showed us around and told us about the lights and what to look for. I love the dragon:)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow! It is fantastic with so much to see, it must be hard to know where to look !

    ReplyDelete
  11. A wonderful church, thanks for sharing.
    I'm in love with the red door...
    Greetings from Germany

    ReplyDelete
  12. What wonderful details you photographed! The lions are quite something aren't they. I do like to see all of these historical details in buildings. Thank you for taking part in Five On Friday, hope you have a good weekend and a good Easter!

    ReplyDelete
  13. What an incredible place. A talent that isn't held back and shown in all glory. Fantastic! Have a wonderful weekend x

    ReplyDelete
  14. Such stunning interior decoration!
    Caz xx

    ReplyDelete
  15. I really enjoyed that, thank you. It's a very special church with all that decoration. Fancy putting those two patterns next to each other, I'd never think of that. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm with you, you can never have too many dragons.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Almost makes me want to paint my front door red. What a gorgeous specimen of a door!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Just amazing. That west door!!! This is definitely now on my I want to go list. Thanks so much for the share

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wow, I love the gothic dragon and its a fantastic building, thanks for the peek.

    ReplyDelete

Leave your mark for future historians.