Christchurch Priory misericords

Monks had a hard life, working for their community and the glory of God. The many church services they attended might have been a chance of a rest, but no: the monks had to spend most of them standing up. The monastic authorities did relent by allowing misericords, or mercy seats – narrow ledges on which the monks could semi-sit to take at least some of the weight off their feet.

The 39 misericords at Christchurch Priory, some of them dating back 800 years, are among the finest in the country. Their undersides are elaborately carved, some with biblical subjects but others with images that appear to have come from Aesop’s fables, or with weird, almost nightmarish, creatures and symbols.

Nearest postcode: BH23 1BU
OS reference: SZ160925
What3words: seats.obey.burn