Usually unnerving in their design, a gargoyle can be a gurning, twisted face, or a creature with claws gripping the building. The name “gargoyle” has its origins in French and Latin and is related to the throat or gullet (think “gargling”), presumably because of the purpose of gargoyles being used as spouts to divert rainwater. An animal? A human? No, it’s a grotesque beast, crafted from stone dating back to medieval times. Conservation of your facades, stonework and yes, even gargoyles, is important – protecting our most impressive and treasured structures.īut what is a gargoyle? What are the origins of these – sometimes – terrifying additions clinging to the corners and lips of buildings? This month, we journey back in time to find out the original purpose of the beasts you pass on a daily basis but perhaps never give a great deal of thought to.Ī crack of lightning, you look up into the rain and see a heavy face protruding from a building. Lining the roof edges of some of our oldest buildings, you need only look up to find a glimpse of gargoyles stone monsters glaring down from on high.

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