Books and resources on Sheela Na Gigs

The Divine Hag of the Christian Celts (Available at Amazon)

ISBN: 1856352943

The Divine Hag of the Christian Celts

Jack Roberts and Joanne McMahon

The Divine Hag of the Christian Celts is available at Amazon

Highly Recommended

Published in May 2001 by Mercier Press this is a new book by Jack Roberts. 

An interesting read it proposes that not all figures are warnings against lust which is the major premise of  Images of Lust. The book includes a useful gazetteer  section but does include some figures which are dubious to say the least (Abson is a good example). The book is marred by some very bad editing which should have been picked up at the proof reading stage. The author names several figures as uniquely (sic) lying on their side. Another annoying point is that the South Tawton figure is said to be in South Taunton which is misleading. Minor gripes aside the book is extremely readable and is a useful addition to the subject.

 

The Witch on the Wall

ISBN: 87 423 01823

The Witch on the Wall

Jorgen Andersen

THE book on Sheela na Gigs

This is the standard work on Sheelas which is now unfortunately out of print and almost impossible to get hold of. 

Images of Lust Second Edition Cover (You can buy Images Of Lust at Amazon)  

2nd Edition Cover

Images of Lust First Edition Cover 

1st Edition Cover (1986 Batsford)

ISBN: 0415151562

Images of Lust
Anthony Weir and James Jerman


Images Of Lust is available at Amazon
Highly Recommended.

An academic view of Sheelas and other exhibitionist figures in general. Describes Sheelas as medieval morality figures. Informative and authoritative it's unfortunately marred by minor inaccuracies. Nevertheless it does put forward the most convincing and least esoteric theory for the origin of sheelas. 

This book has been recently re-published so getting hold of a copy should not prove to much of a problem. If you can't get The Witch on the Wall then get this book. Anthony Weir's website can be found here

No Cover available yet

ISBN: 0415345529

Sheela Na Gigs Unravelling an Enigma

Dr Barbara Freitag

 

A new book on Sheelas due for publication late 2004 by Routledge. Release date keeps changing so please check the link below for the latest one.

Click here for a brief synopsis of the contents.

ISBN: 1903464528

 

The Sacred Whore: Sheela Goddess of the Celts  


Maureen Concannon

The Sacred Whore: Sheela Goddess of the Celts  is available at Amazon

 

A new book on Sheelas which is due for publication 2004-03-15. Check back here for a short review after that date. Available on Amazon.
The Sheela Na Gigs of Britain and Ireland The Sheela Na Gigs of Britain and Ireland (Booklet)
Jack Roberts
Highly recommended.
A comprehensive (especially for Ireland) and up to date the booklet and map are a useful addition to anyone wanting to find out more about sheelas. Stresses a Celtic origin for sheelas. Includes many sheelas not mentioned in Images of Lust. You can get hold of a copy of this excellent little booklet directly from the author at or via your local bookshop.

An Illustrated Map of the Sheela Na Gigs of Britain and Ireland An Illustrated Map of the Sheela Na Gigs of Britain and Ireland (Map)
Jack Roberts and Joanne McMahon
Highly recommended. An excellent map of the locations of Sheelas in Ireland and Britain with some lovely illustrations of Sheelas. Includes many sheelas not mentioned in Images of Lust
You can buy this map directly from the author or from your local
bookshop
Sheela Na Gigs Origins and Functions (Not available through Amazon but still in print)

ISBN: 094617251X

 

Sheela-na-Gigs origins and functions

Eamon P Kelly

Out of print

Highly recommended. This slim book concentrates on Irish sheelas and suggests a origins and possible functions for them. Great if you intend going to Ireland to find some sheelas

The following books are not actually about sheelas but do contain information about specific sheelas

The Herefordshire School of Romanesque Sculpture

ISBN:1 873827 60 1

The Herefordshire School of Romanesque Sculpture

Malcom Thurlbury

Available on Amazon and from the publisher

Published by Logaston Press this book goes behind the sculptures on Romanesque buildings to find the people behind the work and the sources they used for inspiration such as the Bible and The Bestiary. The book makes a somewhat bizzare comparison between one of the corbels on Rock church with the Kilpeck sheela but other than that is an authoritative guide to the Herefordshire school of Romanesque Sculpture. 
The Visual Culture of Wales

ISBN:0-7083-1801-0

The Visual Culture of Wales : Medieval Vision

Peter Lord

Available on Amazon and from the publisher 

 

Published by The University of Wales Press in 2003 this book is the third and final volume of the The Visual Culture of Wales series. This volume deals with medieval imagery in Wales and contains many examples of Welsh medieval church sculpture. The book mentions to previously unknown sheela figures in LLanon and Cynghordy in Mid and South West Wales.
Roof Bosses in Medieval Churches : An Aspect of Gothic Sculpture

C.J.P Cave

Published in 1948 this study of roof bosses in English Churches names a number of possible candidates for sheela na gig figures in Wells, Bristol and South Tawton. Unfortunately when visiting the figures the claims do not stand up and his interpretation of sheela na gig figures is loose to say the least. Andersen in the Witch On The Wall mentions his figures on his authority but it is not thought that he actually visited the figures himself.
Twighlight of the Celtic Gods

ISBN: 0713725249

Twilight of the Celtic Gods

David Clarke with Andy Roberts

Contains two chapters about Sheela na gig's "The curse of the Sheelas" which discuses the background for Sheelas and mentions the Croft On Tees Sheela. Another Chapter entitled "Freya" discusses the Pennington Sheela and possible Scandinavian connections. The book is a little sensationalist in tone but does include some useful information.

 

Ghosts and Legends of the Peak Disctrict

ISBN:0711705550

 

Ghosts and Legends of the Peak District

David Clarke

A guide to the local legends and folklore in the Peak District this book mentions the Haddon Hall, Darley Dale, Melbourne and Alderwasley figures.
Hidden Kent

ISBN:1853062952

 

Hidden Kent

Alan Major

A guide to the curiosities of Kent this book mentions the Grain figure which we now know to be a beard puller.

 

The Haunted Landscape (Click here to go to Katy Jordan's website)

ISBN: 1903341086

The Haunted Landscape

Katy Jordan

 

 

 

 

The haunted landscape is a very interesting book about the folklore of Wiltshire. Notably it contains information about the Stanton St.Quintin Sheela which I've not seen published anywhere else. The book is not available on Amazon unfortunately but you should be able to order it via your local bookshop. Or via Katy's webpages

 

A History of Easthorpe

ISBN: 0951184407

A History of Easthorpe Essex

Anthony R. West

Tells the story of the history and buildings of the small village of Easthorpe in Essex in great detail. The church there once housed a Sheela Na Gig which is now in the Castle Museum in Colchester. Gives some background detail for the sheela. I could not find a publisher for the book so I would assume it is a private printing. Copies are available for sale at the church in Easthorpe. As a side note, I tried getting in touch with the author only to find that he has died recently a pity because the book is obviously a work of love and I would have liked to have congratulated him on it.

 

The Companion to the English Parish Church

ISBN:0-75370-330-0

The Companion to the English Parish Church

Stephen Friar

No specific information about sheelas but very useful for decoding some of the architectural terms used to locate sheelas.

 

 

Sheela na Gig Jewelry

 

Ragweed Forge Sheela Na Gig Pendants Sheela na gig pendants from Ragweed Forge The image of the sheela obviously has an enduring appeal. I first came across a sheela pendant on street stall in Dublin unfortunately I have never seen it since. However Ragweed Forge do two sheela pendants for your delight and delectation 
Bandia Publishing Sheela Na Gig Pendant

Bandia Publishing Sheela Na Gig Plaque

Sheela Items from Bandia from Bandia Publishing Jack Roberts in addition to writing and researching Sheelas also has a number of sheela related items

Click here to contact Bandia


 

Back to pervious pageBack to previous page


 

In Association with Amazon.co.uk