A carved outline of a hand, within which the date 1708 is inscribed, at the base of the south west buttress of the porch of St Michael and All Angels Church

Date:
1930-1950
Location:
St Michael and All Angels Church, Awliscombe, East Devon, Devon
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ST MICHAELS CHURCH, Awliscombe, AWLISCOMBE, East Devon, Devon
Reference:
AA50/08260
Type:
Photograph (Negative)
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Description

It is believed that the carving, known as the 'Bride's Hand', was part of a fertility ritual: upon arriving at the church for her wedding, the bride would place her hand against the hand carved into the stonework, in the belief that it would bring good fortune and fertility to the marriage.

Content

This is part of the Series: LTC01/01 Lady Trenchard Cox: Series of Negatives; within the Collection: LTC01 Lady Trenchard Cox Collection

Rights

© Historic England Archive

People & Organisations

Photographer: Cox, Mary Desiree

Keywords

Medieval Parish Church, Post Medieval Parish Church, Custom And Tradition, Religion