The West Front of Bath Abbey is famous for its carvings. It’s stone stairways to Heaven.
However, it also contains the main doorway into our parish church, though one now only used for special occasions.
The west doors were carved courtesy of the Bishop of Wells and Bath, Bishop Montagu’s own brother, Lord Chief Justice Sir Henry Montagu.
The Montagu coat of arms is prominent on the doors along with the Latin inscription: Ecce quam bonum et quam jucundum est. (Behold how good and pleasing it is.)
As is the Bishop’s own insignia. When the doors are closed, the two brothers unite as one! Bishop Montague paid for the restoration of the church roof after Queen Elizabeth I gave permission for a national appeal to restore the ruined Abbey.
A brief history lesson, but some of my blog followers have been commenting upon the look of those famous West Frost doors. Looking a bit faded and in need of refreshing.
Well, l can tell you, as it happens, the Abbey has been obtaining quotes from specialist conservationists for waxing the door and carrying out wood and stone repairs.
This is something scheduled for the second half of this year.
Moving from the West to the East end of the building, l hear the specialist screws and screw caps (with a crown embossed on them) securing the Edgar plaque have been pulled off and broken and someone has now tried to pull the plaque off the wall.
It’s currently been taken down and is in safekeeping.
Because of this, there Abbey is going to do away with the special screw caps that had been used, and will focus on securing the plaque to the wall once and forever!
Re the motto on the door – the rest of the motto is missing ! The carver either didn’t know or bad planning of the design – the remainder of the motto is “for brothers to live in harmony”. There is a great ledger stone at the top of the aisle in the Abbey – you’ll laugh it’s a cracker!
Perhaps place the Edgar plaque a little higher? Clear of mischievous hands!
Who the heck has the time and inclination to want to rip this interesting information plaque off the wall? I know waiting for a taxi at the nearby rank can get boring, but honestly…
I like the sound of screws with a crown embossed. Do B&Q stock them? I have a large painting of me dressed as Henry 8th over my bed which could be enhanced by these royal sounding fixings!
It was very likely assumed back then that the reader would be able to supply the rest of the quotation for themselves. If they knew Latin, they’d probably know the Psalter well enough to do this.
The West doors are opened on less special occasions – it’s quite common for them to be open for the final hymn at the end of the 11.30 service on a Sunday morning.