Mid-sixteenth-century
A grotesque head with small hands holding mouth open. The creature has a long tongue, heavy eyes and foliage emerging from its mouth. Short legs can also be seen tucked beneath giving the impression of the grotesque squatting above the viewer.
These images can be found throughout medieval churches yet their meaning is illusive. Often referred to as 'toothache' carvings, one theory is that they represent pain associated with their mouths. Another is that they depict liars as demons are sometimes shown behind them pulling their mouths. Alternatively, they might be intended as a joke to mock those below as an example of medieval humour.
Medieval iconography also often associates bare tongues with the devil or sin. This boss could be a depiction of a demon or a sinner to warn the medieval viewer against transgressive behaviour.
The ceiling of the nave north aisle was repainted in 1865.