IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Cheltenham Road, GLOUCESTER, GL2 0JQ

Suburban road between Gloucester and Cheltenham.

A pharmacy for this suburb of the city

Cheltenham Road is the B4063

This sunset taken looking NW along Windermere Road in Longlevens is a classic "yellow sky at night" warning of wet weather to come (as opposed to "red sky at night" which foretells the opposite). The day had been fine & sunny - the following one was indeed wall-to-wall rain. This may be considered a little dark for inclusion on the site, but lightening the foreground any more would bleach the colours from the sky too much.

Panel 5: My Biblical knowledge is insufficient to positively identify the scene depicted here, but would suggest perhaps that it is Jesus holding the Holy Grail. I think that this is a particularly attractive roundel, especially the muted various shades of brown used. These colours could suggest a date as early as the C14th for this glass - but I would welcome expert opinion. Previous panel Image] Next panel Image]

This is a close-up of an example of the charming detail to be found on this ancient stained glass. This is the lower section of Image]

Panel 16: This final panel in the sequence depicts the emblem known as the Portcullis. A portcullis was a latticed gate that could be dropped down through grooves in the stonework to provide quick defence at the gateway to a castle. This stylised representation, with dangling chains was much favoured - and effectively made famous - by the first Tudor monarch, Henry VII (b. 1457, r.1485-1509), though having been used before that by the children of John of Gaunt, notably the Beaufort Family. Margaret Beaufort (1443-1509) {see http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/MargaretBeaufort2.jpg and note the window} was greatgranddaughter of John of Gaunt being the mother of Henry VII. It has been widespread and popular ever since. It is used today for example as the emblem of the Palace of Westminster. For those of us old enough to remember pre-decimal coinage, it was the final design to feature on the 12-sided 3d coins (threepenny ("thruppny") bits). My earlier comments suggest that perhaps this glass dates from Henry VII's reign - but that is just supposition. Previous panel Image] First panel in sequence Image]

Panel 15: This little image is placed in the top light of one of the new windows incorporating this old glass. Who is it a representation of I wonder ? That golden yellow could be a halo, or a crown, or perhaps just golden hair. Depending on this, the image could be of God, or Jesus, or a saint, or an angel - or perhaps just a knight. Whoever it is however, appears to be winking. I would estimate that this glass like the previous few panels dates from the turn of the C16th - but would welcome authoratative advice. Previous panel Image] Next panel Image]