Decorated Capitals

I recently posted some pictures of embossed covers on old natural history books. Here are some more examples of Victorian or Edwardian book production - decorated capitals at the beginning of chapters. These came from some battered pages of a book of wild flowers, that was falling apart and had lost its covers, so I don't know the title, author or the date of publication. But they are delightful examples of decorated typography whose origins can be traced back to the highly decorated capitals in illuminated manuscripts and are an art form that is seldom seen in today's books.

Coral Spot

Some dead twigs on our pear tree have been colonised by this coral spot fungus Nectria cinnabarina. 

Coral spot is an interesting fungus because it exists in two forms. One is saprotrophic, only growing on dead twigs, but there's also a parasitic form that actively attacks and kills live plants that are already in a weakened state. I'm hoping it's the former rather than the latter, otherwise our pear tree's days are numbered. 

Stained Glass Dipper

It's not often that you see native British birds portrayed in church stained glass windows, but you can find this delightful dipper in the window of St.Michael and All Saint's church at Hubberholme in Langstrothdale, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The dipper is one of the characteristic birds of fast-flowing streams in the dale. I found these old photos, that I took 25 years ago, when I was clearing out a drawer. 

Must go back to Hubberholme for another look - and to take some better photos. 

The church's other claims to fame are a fine rood screen and the ashes of novelist J.B. Priestley which are buried there.

Well worth a visit if you are in the area.