English: A carved stone Sheela-na-gig. The object is made from a roughly rectangular slab of local gritstone, possibly Barrel Edge gritstone. The slab has been carved in relief to depict a crude hag-like, skeletal woman, with legs spread and hands pulling open her oversized vulva. The figure is similar to one from Easthorpe (<a href="http://www.sheelanagig.org/wordpress/easthorpe/">http://www.sheelanagig.org/wordpress/easthorpe/</a>), now at Castle Museum, Colchester.

According to John Billingsley (1998, p.117), Sheela-na-gigs first appear in Romanesque art in Aquitaine, France during the 12th century and quickly spread to the rest of Western Europe. They became popular in Ireland after the 15th century, where the depiction of them became more caricatured. Sheela-na-gigs are still made to this day so this could date from the 12th century to the modern day.

The object was discovered within 200 metres of St Oswald's Church in Ashbourne. The church is 13th-14th century in date but has the remains of a Norman cypt. It is possible that this Sheela-na-gig was part of a Norman church that may have existed on the site and was then reused elsewhere when that church was pulled down. John Harding of the Sheela na gig Project (<a href="http://www.sheelanagig.org/wordpress/">http://www.sheelanagig.org/wordpress/</a>) says that stylistically the lower half of the body fits in with other Sheela-na-gigs from Britain, based on the ribs, stance and quality of the carving. However, the head is "problematic" as it appears to be very badly carved. "Monstrous skull-like" Sheela-na-gigs are more common in Ireland (John Harding, pers.comm. 24/03/2017).

Overall, it measures about 715mm long, 425mm wide and 90mm thick.