Wall paintings in Pickering Church
In 1852, a series of remarkably well-preserved wall paintings were discovered during restoration work in St. Peter's church, Pickering. Despite interest from local and national experts, the vicar, the Rev. John Ponsonby was horrified by the discovery and attempted to destroy the scheme. When they were re-uncovered by Rev. George Herbert Lightfoot in the 1880s, they underwent a controversial restoration, which coloured perceptions of their significance and informed radical approaches to their conservation in the twentieth century. Kate will reflect on how Pickering's story adds new layers of understanding to the story of wall paintings in the parish church, and how her research has revealed the hidden medieval meanings of the paintings, the subject of her forthcoming book.