Iffley Church, Oxfordshire – SW View

Description

PRINT OF IFFLEY CHURCH, OXFORDSHIRE – SW VIEW

From ‘The Gentleman’s Magazine and Historical Chronicle‘

1818 Vol LXXXVIII part II p.9

Possibly Drawn and Etched by J.C. Buckler

This framed print is an original copper line engraving from The Gentleman’s Magazine,  and may have been drawn and etched by the architect and antiquarian John Chessell Buckler, who illustrated many of the churches and buildings in Oxford and was known to have been involved in the restoration of Iffley’s chancel in 1856. Read more about the Gentleman’s Magazine and its illustrators.

The antique print shows a view of the church of St Mary the Virgin from the south-west. It was originally situated two miles from Oxford but is now included within the city boundary. It is a fine example of Romanesque architecture and its construction with roughly coursed limestone and ashlar blocks, was funded by the Norman family of St Remy and completed in the late twelfth century. This engraving of the west end shows the Perpendicular replacement of a central circular window (oculus) and the tripartite windows situated above. The doorway is highly decorated with typical Norman zig-zag chevrons, surrounded by two rows of beak heads and an outside row of carved zodiac signs. An original porch probably helped to preserve these stone carvings. Blind arches positioned either side of the door are typically Norman-French in style. The central tower houses six bells.

The Lords of Donnington near Newbury in Berkshire, gained ownership of the church lands in 1383 but did little additional work so the building retained its simple original plan. The church was ‘restored’ and reinforced in the nineteenth century probably influenced by the Oxford Movement. Further restoration in 1995 returned the round ‘eye of God’ window to its original form.

This print is in a good clean condition and is presented in an ivory conservation quality mount and framed with a dark walnut and gold wood frame with acrylic glazing. Price – £40.00.

Approximate dimensions are:

Mount window: 120 x 190 mm

Frame overall size: 225 x 280 mm