A gargoyle is a carved stone grotesque with a spout designed to carry water away from the side of a building. Architects often used multiple gargoyles on buildings to divide the flow of rainwater off the roof to minimise the potential damage from a rainstorm. Gargoyles are usually an elongated fantastic animal because the length of the gargoyle determines how far water is thrown from the wall.

For over 800 years the gargoyles have carried water from Lichfield Cathedral's roof. However time has taken its toll and erosion has occurred. Some of the gargoyles have remained, some repaired and some have been replaced. This has lead to the creation of the new gargoyles, although technically they are now classed as grotesques as they no longer disperse rainwater. Images of the new gargoyles can be found at www.lichfield-cathedral.org. Gargoyles can be found on many buildings across the world, both religious and non-religious.

Useful websites

Lichfield Cathedral                       www.lichfield-cathedral.org                

Wikipedia                                    www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gargoyle

Northstar Gallery                        www.northstargallery.com

Articles on Gargoyles and

Cathedrals                                  www.thefaithfulword.org/gargoyles