This small fragment is from the choir (or quire) of the cathedral. Seats in the choir were lifted up when praying but the old or infirm were allowed to sit upon the small seats, or misericord (literally "act of mercy"), attached to the bench or wall. Most misericord were made of wood but those along the back of the choir were part of the stone wall. Some misericord were carved with vulgar or ridiculous designs as the seats were used to comfort the posteriors of the people who used them and were deemed improper to have religious imagery on them. This misericord is carved with a ship and prancing dog-as-captain design.