Small hinged seats in choir stalls conceal some of the most imaginative CARVINGS in medieval woodwork. These misericords often depict animals, fables, biblical scenes, or humorous FIGURES, revealing a lively artistic culture that flourished during the C14 and C15. Their craftsmanship parallels motifs found in stone sculpture, linking them visually to other decorative elements such as ROOD SCREEN or STAINED GLASS. Because they were tucked beneath seats, many escaped the iconoclasm that affected more prominent furnishings.

Symbolic imagery appears frequently in their designs. Green Men, grotesques reminiscent of GARGOYLES, and moralising scenes echo themes found in WALL PAINTINGS or sculptural programmes elsewhere in the church. Their survival provides a vivid glimpse into the humour, imagination, and moral concerns of the medieval mind. In churches where choir stalls remain intact, misericords form an essential part of the building’s narrative and decorative identity.