Thaxted Travel Forum

Oooh, the first Thaxted Forum question!

I'm trying to identify an object in Thaxted church. I have several books on Essex curches, plus the church guide book, but can't identify the colourful circular chandelier-like object hanging from the ceiling near the iron stella.

Although it looks like a hanging chandelier, I can't see space for any candles in my photo. It's a woven metal circlet with daisies, bluebells and red, heart-shaped tulips, as well as blue stars.

Any info gratefully received. I have Googled, but that's hard when you don't have a search term lol!

Thanks.

It sounds to me something which is quite specific to that church, rather than a generic church item, and probably something which is fairly modern/recent (otherwise it would be mentioned in the guide).

Unless someone pops up here and can answer you (and me!) I suggest you contact the vicar:

http://www.uttlesford.gov.uk/uttlesford/CFFiles/voluntaryservices/organisation.cfm?Organisation=110

That info is from 2005, so it might be a different vicar now but the address will probably be the same.

Alli, I have a photo of that as well ! And I can't answer your question - mainly because I have the same book, and if Arthur Mee doesn't mention it....

But I will do some more research and see if I can find out.

J, here is a photo of the object.

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/p/m/3bf9ce/

Intriguing isn't it ?

Most definitely a 'modern' thing........by which I mean 20th century, as looks vaguely 20'3/30's to me...and yes, probably a type of chandelier (candle sconces hidden within). Doubt it's important enough to be found online or in books, though may have been made by 'proper' artist (although the church guide book not mentioning it suggests it is either a) very new or b) not realyy important/noteworthy).

Very pretty bit of metalwork though.

The main flower in the circlet of flowers hanging in the church at Thaxted is the crocus. You probably know that Saffron was grown in this area and it comes from the inner part of the crocus flower. Saffron is a very expensive spice, it takes 70,000 flowers to produce 450 grams of saffron, but not much saffron to flavour large quantities of food. There must have been carpets of crocuses which would have been very beautiful and brought wealth to the town. The circlet is charming and other flowers have been added such as foxgloves - which also had medical properties. The town of Saffron Walden is nearby, also with a large church, so they must have benefited from this trade as well.

Definitely crocuses linked with the saffron trade. It's not an indigenous English plant, but has medical uses as well as providing the spice.

Foxgloves contain digitalis, and has been used in medicine for centuries. Digitalis affects the heart rate (it is still used today), and the plant was used as a stimulant or diuretic.

The white flowers look like 'ox-eye' daisies, which also have a medicinal use(for 'women's complaints',reducing swellings, coughs and jaundice).

The blue stars may represent borage flowers, which also have medicinal uses: increased adrenalin production, useful for mood stimulation etc.

So I suspect the theme of the circlet is related to herbal medicine. Is there a link between the church and health (a Medieval pauper's hospital nearby, perhaps)?

I can't find any references to a hospital of any sort in Thaxted. The main wealth of Thaxted seems to have come from cutlery as well as the wool trade. Of course, nearby Saffron Walden was the major medieval English centre for the production of the saffron crocus which was used to produce dye (hence the town’s name). But I'm sure that there is a connection between this chandelier and the saffron trade. it's difficult to tell from my photo, but there is something that might be a candleholder.

Thanks so much for the interest! The crocuses make perfect sense. I do believe it's early 20th century, but one of my photos shows up inside the circle and I'm sure there are no candle sconces.

I'm not sure about the blue stars - the other flowers are so clear I wonder if they would then use a symbol to refer to borage flowers? I had wondered if they were related to the Earls of Oxford (the star as well as the boar are often used) but this is really the wrong part of Ess ex for that.

I think I'll definitely get in touch with the vicar. If I find anything more definitive I'll be sure to let you guys know.

Let me know if you don't get an answer. Maybe after Easter we can pop up there one afternoon and find someone to interrogate !

The church warden we spoke to was incredibly helpful - lovely guy, wellys and a long beard! But we didn't get the info on this item (typical!).