Published: Thursday, 4th December, 2008 12:00pm

Retro: Naked bearded statue mystery

by David Cliffe

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ONE of the pleasures of living here is the possibility of a trip to Mapledurham, so close to the town that you can walk there in about an hour, but seemingly a world away from the bustle and noise.

I was reminded of it by this postcard, which has the caption: 'Riverside Statue, Mapledurham. A185.'

It's one of three postcards brought in the other day and given to the library for our local illustrations collection.

One postcard shows the statue of Cain and Abel, which stood in Sulham Woods until about 1969, when it was stolen.

Another is of the Mapledurham statue of Old Palm, which is still there standing on a tall brick plinth in woodland, and then there is this one.

Over the years, Old Palm has acquired a folklore of his own.

He is a man with a pitcher and it has been claimed that he represents the River Thames.

There is supposed to have been a tunnel from the cellars of Mapledurham House to a vault under the chancel of the church, and another tunnel from the vault under the chancel to the woods near Old Palm, dating from the times when laws were in force against Roman Catholics.

The Blounts of Mapledurham were one of the leading Roman Catholic families in the area.

It was also reckoned that if you walked round the plinth of the statue three times, the devil would appear!

The statue in this photograph is rather different.

The figure of a bearded man, naked apart from a cloak draped over his shoulder, looks heavenwards.

His right hand holds some kind of stave, which appears to curve at the end, and his right knee kneels on something indeterminate.

Perhaps he has slain something, and chopped its head off.

The left hand appears to be holding something, but it's impossible to say from the photograph what it might be.

The figure stands in a low plinth, and is surrounded by tall nettles.

I wonder who this statue represents, and whether it is still by the river at Mapledurham?

Can any kind Retro reader enlighten us? Email or call the number above.