Modelling the past

During the Transforming the Trent Valley scheme, we had the opportunity to work with skilled volunteers in digitally scanning some of our historic monuments and buildings. We also had to opportunity to create digital representations of how some of our ‘lost’ monuments might have appeared in the past. Working with our skilled volunteers, we were able to scan some of our historic monuments and buildings, creating ‘digital twins’ of the original monuments. This has a number of benefits, for example, the scan of Anchor Church shown in the main image above and downstream of our current project area has a number of practical applications. It means that people who are unable to travel to or visit the actual model can visit millimetre perfect models, whether for study or out of personal interest. It also means that we have a baseline of the current condition of the monument giving the opportunity to monitor management plans or develop alternatives. Many of our monuments are so degraded as to only be visible as crop marks, seen only from aerial photographs as different coloured soil or plant growth. We will attempt to model some of these and present a virtual image of how they might have looked.

Trent Valley Past & Present page

A Sheelagh-na-gig at Tatenhill?

Image courtesy David Moore 2025

There has long been debate over this piece of worn stone at Tatenhill as to whether it represents a Sheelagh-na-gig figure, or a ‘hunky-punk’ style gargoyle or some other grotesque figure.  Sheelagh-na-gig figures usually depict a frightening-looking female figure in a squatting position holding open her enlarged vulva.  The one at Tatenhill is so badly worn as to render definite interpretation impossible.  Similar figures of each type abound in church architecture, although Sheelaghs feature more rarely.  The Tatenhill one also bears similarities with grotesques shown holding open a gaping maw and swallowing people, often represented by the hindquarters of a man with genitals displayed hanging down.  Medieval art certainly wasn’t afraid of showing nudity.

Discussing the possible Sheelagh stone at Tatenhill Church. Photo courtesy Mark Knight 2025

The worn stone is low down on the east wall of the church, probably repositioned there during Victorian renovation of the church.  If you’re passing by it’s worth a visit. Let us know what you think.

Whilst on site with a group recording graffiti in June 2025, we were able to examine the worn stone.  One of our volunteers, David Moore, is an expert in 3D modelling and has a long interest in recording historic stone carvings of various types and was able to demonstrate how a 3D model can be made.  

Tatenhill Sheelagh

Font of St John the Baptist, Armitage

Image courtesy Iulian Praz/ Preservia 2025

The stone font at Armitage church is a remarkable survivor from the early 12th century.  This is a particularly interesting time in English history; the Norman Conquest had happened only a generation earlier and there was still a strong native English culture with the Norman overlordship not yet integrated and a new version of Englishness established.

We are working with Iulial Praz and Preservia in scanning and modelling a number of sites and artefacts from across the project area.  Iulian was able to scan the font and you can follow the link below.

When new, and until the Reformation under Henry VIII in 1538, the font would have been brightly painted in vivid colours – as would the whole of the inside of the church – and either the paint removed or overpainted in white limewash after that.  With the use of UV torches, we were able to examine the font and reveal, perhaps for the first time in nearly 500 years, some of the colours of the original paint.

Detail of Armitage font under UV light revealing ancient paint. Phot courtesy: Mark Knight 2025

As with other ancient fonts, there is a strong likelihood that the eyes and headgear of the figures had precious stones set in them, perhaps prized out and removed during the Reformation or later.

The font is still in use after all this time and available to have a look at any time that the church is open.

Armitage church font