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Dooms were quite prevalent in the middle ages, but puritans made sure that they were covered up in the 16th century.听 The Wenhaston doom was painted over with whitewash at this time and then forgotten about...

It was rediscovered by the Victorians, when builders were reorganising the church.听 They moved the large wooden structure and, for lack of somewhere to put it, laid it outside in the churchyard overnight.听 That night, it rained, the lime-based whitewash dissolved and one of the most significant pieces of medieval art was rediscovered!

Dooms portray the final judgement of souls after death, and this example, in St Peter's Church, is one of the best preserved examples.听 Starting at the top, we see Jesus Christ sitting with his hands in a blessing pose, as he is attended by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist, both in positions of devotion.

Below Christ on the left, we see images of Paradise, and kings, queens and noblemen who are lining up to be invited into paradise by St Peter.听

On the right hand side is a portrayal of the opposite - souls being sent into the graphically depicted jaws of hell.听 The symbol of their hopelessness being the chain around the people, showing there is no escape from destiny.听 Next to them are demons and devils bargaining to buy souls of the Damned.

In the centre of the piece, there are blank shadows of where statues of Jesus would have originally hung.

The effect of the piece is almost overwhelming - it has been well-preserved, more through luck than judgement, and retains many of its original vivid colours - the reds of demons and hell are quite striking.

The doom faces you as you enter the church, and the narrative of the piece is clear to grasp - follow Christ or be damned.