Two Kings and Their Hawk

St Peter and St Paul, Heydon, Norfolk

 

This church is full of wall paintings dating back to the 15th century. At that time most churches would have been brightly decorated with their walls painted with depictions of stories from the bible. The reformation saw the destruction of much of these  which were either destroyed or in most cases white washed over.
This painting shows two kings both wearing crowns, the right one holding a sceptre. Between the is a hawk about to perch, possible being held by the king on the left although the later memorial is covering his left arm and hand so this isn't clearly seen.
Like most of the other wall paintings in Heydon this was only discovered in 1970 when the covering layer of paint was removed.