Throughout the country there are several thousand known examples of the Green Man, with many more still to be discovered. The earliest of these date from the beginning of the Middle Ages. They were common throughout the Medieval period and in some ecclesiastical buildings - Canterbury Cathedral for example - they may be counted in the dozens.
The popularity ofthe Green Man came to an abrupt end, in Britain at least, with the Reformation. The new simplified approach to Christianity brought about a backlash against the colourful and symbolic imagery of the Roman Church. Sculptures, paintings, windows, and decorations of all kinds, not only the Green Man, were destroyed, whitewashed over, or simply forgotten. In subsequent years, some rare examples continued to be produced for secular buildings such as the gates of Hampton Court Palace.
A Green Man wall plaque, handmade in stoneware clay.
With the Victorian Gothic Revival, the Green Man became popular once again. It was an accepted design element in the sculptors' repertoire and from this time onwards may be seen in both religious and secular bu
A Green Man masque, handmade in leather.
An acrylic painting of the Green Man. Originally painted as a shop sign, later used as a greeting card.
