A Link with JRR Tolkien
It was always a pleasant drive along the Fosse Way to reach Stow-on-the Wold after passing through Moreton-on-the-Marsh. There were always art galleries to visit and of these the Fosse Gallery overlooking the main square was especially of interest. A rather unique feature in the town, however, was a north facing doorway in St Edward’s Church which dates from the 12th century. The site also marks the location of an earlier Saxon church. The doorway is buttressed by two yew trees which appear to have become an integral part of the building. The feature is of interest as a unique spectacle and has been made especially popular through association with JRR Tolkien. The doorway itself is considered to be around 300 years old and the yew trees were presumably planted at this time to improve the appearance of the doorway. Tolkien was a frequent visitor to the Cotswolds and there is conjecture that he did observe the doorway of St. Edward’s though there is no well documented evidence to support this. The link, however, is often made between the Stow doorway and Tolkien’s sketch of Durin’s Doorway to the Mines of Moria in the Lord of the Rings.
As a photographic subject, it is surprising how so many photographs of the doorway are strikingly different in their appearance. This can be perhaps explained in part by the complex surface topography of the yew trees and the range of lighting conditions under which photographs can be taken. Even allowing for these effects, however, there is always something enigmatic about such images – as if all the many details and features contained within the image will never be fully revealed. It is a curious reflection that the painting entitled ‘The Light of the World’ by William Holman Hunt, on display in St Paul’s Cathedral in London perhaps strikes a similar chord of mystery as a depiction of Christ carrying a lamp in a doorway framed by trees.
For the budding graphic illustrator, however, the doorway offers up a challenge of graphic manipulation. Andy Warhole perhaps could have done better with his variations on the Stow doorway rather than images of Marilyn Munro.
The two slightly different images show the wealth of detail contained within the doorway feature.
