LATE 15TH CENTURY

JETTY POSTS WERE USED TO SUPPORT UPPER FLOORS OF TIMBER FRAMED HOUSES. THE POSTS WERE 'JETTIED' OUT TO MAXIMISE THE FLOOR SPACE ON A CONGESTED FRONTAGE WHILE RETAINING THE WIDTH OF THE STREET, AND THE CORNER POSTS NEEDED SUBSTANTIAL BRACKETS FOR SUPPORT. THE CARVED HEADS FOUND ON THE CORNER POSTS WERE THEREFORE WELL ABOVE EYE LEVEL DESIGNED TO BE LOOKED AT FROM BELOW. SURVIVING EXAMPLES ARE WEATHERED AS THEY WERE OUTSIDE. ONE IN THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM REF W.6-1928 IN THE MEDIEVAL ROOMS IS CARVED WITH A WILD MAN, OR 'WOODWOSE'.
THIS EXAMPLE WAS FOUND IN CAMBRIDGE AND BELIEVED TO BE FROM A COLLEGE OR HISTORIC BULIDING.