They Fled by Night

Hopefully the last backblip - our last morning of our mini-break sees us exploring Cartmel, including compulsory visits to the cheese shop and the home of Sticky Toffee Pudding! 

Despite several visits to the village in the past - including a sublime tasting menu at the wonderful L’Enclume - we seem to have missed out Carmel Priory. The 800 year old Priory Church is steeped in history, the souls of centuries evident in walled off doorways, effigies and stone inscriptions. 

My eyes are drawn both to the glorious carvings of the 15th century choir stalls and to the beautiful 20th century sculptures by the Spanish artist Josefina de Vasconcellos who died in 2005 aged 100. 

There is the beautiful St Michael, battling his way through the abstract jaws of a dragon, the poignant They Fled by Night showing Mary and Joseph and the Holy Child, and the desperately sad Young Martyr - a head behind solid bars. Churches have been repositories of art throughout the ages, and it’s wonderful to see these contemporary pieces sitting here alongside the centuries old craftsmanship.

My main, then is They Fled by Night, with extras of the other sculptures and the gorgeous choir stalls.