Grotesques

A Grotesque 

From the now redundant Church of St Werburgh in Derby city centre, Derbyshire, England.

The church has been re-built over time, with the oldest parts dating from the 1600's. There are some interesting features to be seen inside the church, such as the wrought iron pulpit and font cover, a reredos inscribed with the Ten Commandments, Lord's Prayer and with Queens Anne's Royal coat of arms sat above it.

In 1735, Dr Smauel Johnson married Elizabeth Porter in the church. Dr Johnson was an English writer, who published after nine years of work, A Dictionary of the English Language. Although not the first dictionary, it was the most commonly used one for 150 years until the publication of the Oxford English Dictionary in 1928.

Grotesques should not be confused with gargoyles, which have the water spouts. Both are features of Gothic styled churches and buildings.