Do you know the difference between a gargoyle and a grotesque?
While both can appear as fantastical creatures or monstrous figures, and often have a symbolic meaning, gargoyles are functional – they were designed to drain water away from the sides of buildings, whilst grotesques are purely decorative.
So, while all gargoyles are grotesques, not all grotesques are gargoyles!
Along the River Tweed, these mysterious carvings are more than just spooky faces, they’re part of a rich architectural tradition!
There are a few common themes in Tweed-Side Grotesques:
- The Green Man is found in many Borders churches. This leafy-faced figure is a classic grotesque symbolising the link between humanity and nature.
- Chimeras and hybrid beasts are often carved into corbels and keystones, especially in ecclesiastical buildings.
- Symbolic faces depict exaggerated human expressions, used to convey moral lessons or ward off evil.
You can see examples of these carvings in places like Peebles, Melrose and Berwick-upon-Tweed which are rich in Gothic-style and medieval architecture.
Melrose Abbey is one of the most famous sites in the Borders for grotesques. Look out for a pig playing bagpipes – one of the most whimsical grotesques in Scotland, various Green Man carvings, and other mythical creatures and funny faces tucked into the stonework.
