 |
CALVADOS |
 |
| Commune | ||||||
| Aubigy la Falaise | Bayeux | Caen | Campigny | Dampierre | Friardel | St-Gabriel-Brécy |
| Hotot-en-Auge | Lisieux | Mondeville | Orbec | Sainte-Marie-aux-Anglais | ||
|
Aubigny la Falaise Church of Notre Dame de la Visitation |
 |
.png) |
 |
Six lefesize figures of the Morell Family (1625-1786) The three on the left are shown on the left above; the three on the right are shown on the right; well. obviously! The central photographs are another view of effigy 3, 4, & 5, counting from the left. I could not deduce the individual names Photographs from James Todd, to whom thanks |
||
| Bayeux |
| Cathedral of Notre-Dame |
 |
|
| Entrance to the Cathedral is free; you may park in one of the nearby car parks, some of which appear to be free. Photography is allowed and there is no charge but you are asked not to use flash. This is no problem as the cathedral is very light inside except for the crypt which is not. |
 |
Purbeck marble tomb slab near the entrance. There is no inscription but it is said to be that of Philippe de Harcourt, who was bishop of Bayeux 1142-1163 |
 |
 |
In the crypt: Canon Gervais de Lorchamp
(1445) He was vice-dean 1405-1445. Note his depiction on the wall painting
behind being presented by St Michael to the Virgin and
Child
|
| Cimeteière
de l'Ouest or The Main Cemetery |
| I do not normally include monuments from cemeteries in this work, except when the monument :- 1) was or might have been originally in the church or a church, 2) should perhaps have been in a church, such those with recumbent effigies, or 3) is of some interest, such as those containing sculptural representations of the deceased rather than religious motives. |
 |
 |
 |
| Canon George-Abel Simon
(1884-1958) Genealogist, heraldrist and writer |
 |
 |
|
Roger Bésus (1915-1994) and Charlette Bésus
(1915-2003) Roger Bésus was a writer and sculptor who carved the bust of himself and the nude figure of his wife, which are now incorporated in their tomb. |
 |
Caen - L'Abbaye aux Hommes & L'Abbaye aux Dames |
2.svg.png)
|
|
William the Conqueror and his wife, Matilda of Flanders, founded two abbeys outside the walls of Caen and at opposite sides of the city: L'Abbaye aux Hommes (Church of St Étienne) (left) and L'Abbaye aux Dames (Church of the Trinity) (right) and they were buried in their respective foundations. Park in one of the many car parks of the city. There is no entry fee and no charge for photography in either church. L'Abbaye aux Hommes is open during normal hours but the opening times for L'Abbaye aux Dames is (or was) restricted so it is important to check these times. |
 |
The simple stone of
Matilda still exists
and her body still lies below. (left)
However that of William dates only from the early nineteenth century. (above) |
William's original monument,
commissioned by his son William Rufus, was executed by
Otto the Goldsmith
and decorated with gold, silver and gems. A recumbent effigy
was said to have been added later.
In May 1562 the church was pillaged during the Wars of Religion, and the tomb smashed, the King's bones being thrown around the church. Only a thigh bone was recovered and this was returned to the church in 1642. For the reburial a table tomb (above) was constructed in the quire but this, being found to cause obstruction, was removed and the bone placed under a floor slab in the sanctuary. This was in turn smashed during the French Revolution and present slab placed in 1802 |
| Saint Gabriel-Brécy - Priory of Saint-Gabriel | |
 |
 |
| A Prior of the 14th Century Photographs from Tony Carr, to whom thanks |
|
|
|
