The Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society’s (IOMNHAS) winter programme of events will continue on Saturday, January 23, with a talk by Dr Patricia Tutt on ‘Stained Glass of the Isle of Man’.
Dr Tutt gained her PhD on the vernacular architecture of the Isle of Man from the University of Liverpool in 2012, after studying part-time from her home in the island, and recently published the acclaimed book ‘An Introduction to the Architecture of the isle of Man’, beautifully illustrated with many of her own photographs.
When we think of stained glass, the first thing that comes to mind is church windows and religious scenes, such as the window portraying pilgrims in Jurby Church. But there are a number of more secular subjects and settings for stained glass around the island.
St George’s Church in Douglas, for example, has a roundel portraying Queen Victoria; the Manx Museum has some stained glass windows made by William Hoggatt in 1934 depicting scenes from Manx National Poet TE Brown’s ‘Fo’c’s’le Yarns’; in Tynwald, the Legislative Council Chamber has stained glass windows in the north wall of the Manx coat of arms and the armourial bearings of the English crown; and in the island buildings designed by the Arts and Crafts movement architect Mackay Bailie Scott, stained glass appears as a decorative feature in late Victorian villas.
Patricia Tutt’s lecture, to be held in the Manx Museum lecture theatre at 2.30pm, will cover the history, design, form, manufacture and materials of stained glass, illustrated by many Manx examples, including non-ecclesiastical ones.
These examples will range from the Georgian period to the present and will illustrate changing tastes and agendas in the use and sponsorship of such decorative windows. The talk will be followed by tea.
The next talks on the IOMNHAS programme will be the society’s Presidential Lecture by Frank Cowin on ‘Unfinished Project and Other Matters’ on Saturday, February 20, and, on Saturday, March 5, Dr Rachel J Crellin will speak on ‘Violent Times? User-wear analysis of weapons from the late Bronze Age on the Isle of Man’.
Due to conditions caused by the recent weather conditions, this Saturday’s Winter Wildbird Watch walk, to have been led by Stephen Smyth and Sean Gray, to view winter waders and migrants at the Point of Ayre gravel pits has had to be postponed – as those attending would have had to become waders themselves.