PraetorianMember2674 XPAug-23-2013 1:56 PMDuring the early 90s some of the crumbling gargoyles at Paisley Abbey were replaced. One of the stonemasons must have been a fan of A L I E N!
A gargoyle on a historic 13th Century abbey has caused a social media sensation with its resemblance to the monster from the Alien films.
The Reverend Alan Birss said most of the gargoyles were replaced during a refurbishment in the early 1990s. He thinks that one of the stonemasons must have been having a bit of fun.
Mr Birss, minister at the abbey, said that 12 medieval gargoyles which had been on the abbey for hundreds of years had to be taken down in 1991 because they had "crumbled and were in a very bad state".
The purpose of the grotesque figures was to take rain water away from the roof in the days before down pipes. Just one of the original gargoyles was left outside the abbey to show how they would have looked, although there are medieval grotesques inside the building.
Mr Birss said a stonemason from an Edinburgh firm was contracted to create the new gargoyles. "I think it was a stonemason having a bit of fun," he said. "I'm sure he wasn't deliberately copying the alien in the film. It was just a concept of an alien."
Mr Birss said an internet search showed that someone had pointed out the similarity as far back as 1997. "But it obviously did not pick up and take off then like it has now," he said.
Church officer Matthew McIntosh said: "It is a beautiful building. Paisley gets a bad press but the abbey is the jewel in the crown. People will be surprised and delighted by everything they see outside and inside."
"Let The Cosmic Incubation Begin" ~ H.R. Giger
PraetorianMember2674 XPAug-23-2013 1:58 PM."Let The Cosmic Incubation Begin" ~ H.R. Giger
FacehuggerMember211 XPAug-23-2013 2:17 PMYou need to add the full image url Lone for it to show :)PraetorianMember2674 XPAug-23-2013 2:33 PMThanks for fixing the link xeno_alpha! :)
"Let The Cosmic Incubation Begin" ~ H.R. Giger
OvomorphMember0 XPAug-23-2013 3:27 PM:D thanks Lone!..
that is an amazing thing to see.. I never been aware of that kind of figures were use as gargoyles! but is really cool see them on the top and sides the chappels's windows.
I've found an article searching about that kind of gargoyles.
[url=http://golem13.fr/chapelle-de-bethleem-gremlins/]Une Chapelle « Gremlins » du XVe siècle près de Nantes[/url]
and our beloved Xeno --- < 3
[img]http://golem13.fr/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/chapelle-de-bethleem-Alien.jpg[/img]
Paisley one is cuter ^^The world will spin well past our last breath, but I will always care about you
PraetorianMember2674 XPAug-23-2013 3:44 PMThat's pretty awesome **AI**!
Love the Gremlins & wee Gizmo too!! :-D"Let The Cosmic Incubation Begin" ~ H.R. Giger
OvomorphMember80 XPAug-24-2013 9:30 PMhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-23810979
Check out this url. It is the original news item on BBC News with a short video of the Priest discussing it. He seems really quite pleased. I think it was posted on BBC.com yesterday and was prominent at the news site. I thought it was awesome. Nice post Lone.Today I have been dedicated to post on as many topics as possible until I pass out from drinking too many beers.
PraetorianMember2674 XPAug-26-2013 2:43 PMThanks guys! :)
I thought it was awesome too. The Abbey will have loads of visitors now, perhaps a certain director will visit one day?
"Let The Cosmic Incubation Begin" ~ H.R. Giger
OvomorphMember81 XPSep-02-2013 12:14 AMFantastic, perfect gargoyle!
Some media actually thought is was original.........lolPraetorianMember2674 XPApr-05-2017 1:21 AMCommunity bump for new members who may not know about this!
"Let The Cosmic Incubation Begin" ~ H.R. Giger
