War Memorial
God’s House in Hitchin
I took this photograph one day on the way to work early in the morning. It’s as if the church were overlooking and protecting the Warner’s Alms Houses and the market. The usual view is usually taken from wonderful The Triangle Cafe across to the War Memorial and the church’s porch and tower. (A pretty view but it makes the church seem isolated and to do with death rather than with living and life) This was taken from Biggin Lane by The Biggin, through the market across to the church. It was strange to see no one in the market or teenagers hanging around, drinking alcohol as usual. A nice gentle, serene start to the day.
A Gargoyle’s View
Imagine if you will, that you’re a Gargoyle. What would you see all day long? Who would you look down upon in your stiff stone life? Are you there to protect the church, to scare away non-believers or other demonic creatures? Whatever the fact is, this is one of the views of one of the Gargoyles on St Mary’s Church overlooking the Triangle Café, The War Memorial and other shops.
(NB. The word Gargoyle comes from Old French Garguoille and Late Latin Gurgulio, both meaning ‘Throat’ and indicates one of the uses of a Gargoyle; that of a water spout for rain water) Here from the top of St. Mary’s Church, you can see the roof tops of some of the buildings that encircle Market Place, one of them being the lovely Triangle Café.