AUMBRY – Aumbries, or cupboards, originally had shelves and lockable doors. Those in the Church held the vessels and books used in Church Services.
BOSSES:
The ceiling shape of the different areas of the Abbey resembled the present ambulatory with additional carved and brightly painted bosses, covering the joins of four ribs and two ribs, dated c.13th century. The foliage is oak leaves and acorns, with surviving colour traces. The bosses reflect the Abbey's new wealth obtained from the sale of the wool clip, considered the best quality from Flanders to Italy. These sheep, run on granges, were the ancestors of the Ryeland. All these bosses must have been removed by permission of the King's Commissioners at the 1537 Dissolution or they would have shattered through frost damage when the roof fractured after removal of the lead covering.
CHRIST IN MAJESTY BOSS – Christ's right hand is raised in blessing while his left is on an orb. His robe, cloak folds, beard and hair with diadem are superbly defined. This was one of the set over the presbytery nave. Having been kept safe, this was reused beneath the west wall window as a focal point in the 1630s. When Archbishop Laud fell from power, with Puritanism replacing High Church, it was again deliberately saved by being plastered over and, unknowingly, the gallery further hid it. It was rediscovered by Rowland Paul.
CORONATION OF THE VIRGIN BOSS – The Virgin wears a dress with girdle, cloak and diadem on long wavy hair. Christ has His right hand raised to crown her Regina Caeli or Coeli (Queen of Heaven). All Cistercian Churches were dedicated to the Virgin so there was no Lady Chapel. This was one of the set over the presbyterynave. When removed c.1537, this boss was preserved by being hidden under the tomb of Robert of Ewyas, then in an eastern chapel.
ABBOT WITH VIRGIN and CHILD BOSS – The abbot may be Richard Stradell, Abbot of Dore 1305–1346, who was probably responsible for the new vaulting decoration. Alternatively, it may depict Saint Bernard of Clairveaux and his vision of the Virgin and Child. When removed c.1537, this boss was preserved by being hidden under the tomb of Roger de Clifford, then in an eastern chapel. This boss featured in the Age of Chivalry Exhibition at the Royal Academy of the Arts, London 1987, and then in Paris.
ABBOT and KNEELING MONK BOSS – The abbot may be Richard Stradell, politician and diplomat employed by King Edward II and King Edward III. He carefully supervised the Abbey, and negotiated with William de Grandison for the gift of a portion of the true cross. His writings include his funeral sermon for Bishop Richard Swinfield in Hereford Cathedral in 1316 – probably in front of the then new Mappa Mundi. Richard Stradell died on 29th July 1347. Two hundred years later John Leland recorded that he was still remembered as a great man of integrity, noting that Abbot Cleubery told me much about Straddell (but gave no details!). This may explain the boss' preservation as an icon with foliage removed. It was found in the Dulas Brook in the 19th century.
