Winchester No. 1 / Venta Belgarum / Wintanceaster / Yenta Belgaruan

Results: 52 records

Click to view images and/or subjects

B01: Apostle or saint - St. Nicholas - story of the innkeeper of Myra - side 1

Scene Description: west side of the basin

Image Source: digital image of a 21 June 1998 photograph by BSI

B02: animal - bird - dove - in a circle

Scene Description: north side of the basin: bird [some identify as an eagle] in a circle at the left

Image Source: digital image of a 21 June 1998 photograph by BSI

B03: animal - mammal - lion - passant-regardant - in a circle

Scene Description: north side of the basin: lion [some identify as dragon] in a circle at the centre; the head is rather canine but the mane below is unmistakably a lion's

Image Source: digital photograph taken 3 August 2010 by Janice Torstevin for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

B04: animal - bird - dove - in a circle

Scene Description: north side of the basin: bird [some identify as eagle] in a circle at the right

Image Source: digital image of a 21 June 1998 photograph by BSI

B05: Apostle or saint - St. Nicholas - story of the innkeeper of Myra - side 2

Scene Description: south side of the basin

Image Source: digital image of a 21 June 1998 photograph by BSI

B06: animal - bird - dove - 2 - facing each other - in a circle - 2

Scene Description: east side of the font: right and left circles

Image Source: digital photograph taken 3 August 2010 by Janice Torstevin for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

B07: animal - bird - dove - 2 - facing each other - eating grapes - in a circle

Scene Description: east side of the font: centre circle

Image Source: digital photograph taken 3 August 2010 by Janice Torstevin for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

B08: design element - architectural - church

Scene Description: symbol of Jerusalem? to the right of the second part of the legend of St. Nicholas, at the east end of the south side of the basin

Image Source: digital photograph taken 3 August 2010 by Janice Torstevin for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

BS01: design element - motifs - palmette

Scene Description: in the upper and lower spandrels between the circles that inscribe animals

Image Source: digital photograph taken 3 August 2010 by Janice Torstevin for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

BU01: design element - motifs - foliage

Scene Description: very large clusters decorating the capitals of the outer columns of the base

Image Source: detail of a digital photograph taken by neilalderney123 [Neil Howrad] 28 February, 2009 [http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilsingapore/3316878989/in/pool-1222982@N22/]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.0

animal - bird - dove - 2 - facing each other - drinking from chalice

Scene Description: in one of the spandrels of the upper rim surface

Image Source: digital image of a 21 June 1998 photograph by BSI

design element - motifs - floral or foliage

Scene Description: on the southeast spandrel of the upper rim surface

Image Source: digital photograph taken 3 August 2010 by Janice Torstevin for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

design element - motifs - vine - beaded-tape - palmette

Scene Description: a very stylised, almost geometric vine with beaded-tape and palmettes decorates the round rim of the inner basin well

Image Source: digital photograph taken 18 December 2015 by Colin Smith

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 22 January 2016)

sacrament - baptism

Image Source: digital image of a detail of an engraving by Richard Godfrey 1782 published in The Antiquarian Repertory (1807-1809)

Copyright Instructions: PD

sacrament - baptism - procession

Scene Description: Initial section of the baptismal procession for the baptism of Prince Arthur, son of Henry VII, at Winchester Cathedral in 1496 [NB: not baptised in the Tournai font but in a "font of silver and gilt", made for the occasion (?) and set up near the stone font]

Image Source: digital image of a detail of an engraving by Richard Godfrey 1782 published in The Antiquarian Repertory (1807-1809)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of basin - detail

Image Source: digital photograph by Timothy Birt

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received from the author (e-mail of 27 July 2024)

view of basin - east side

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in Eden (1909)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of basin - east side

Image Source: digital image of a B&W photograph in Bond (1908)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of basin - north side

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in Eden (1909)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of basin - north side

Image Source: digital photograph taken 3 August 2010 by Janice Torstevin for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

view of basin - northeast side

Image Source: digital photograph taken 2 June 2012 by Peter Austin

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (email of 28 January 2013)

view of basin - side

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in Rolland (1928?)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of basin - side

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in Rolland (1928?)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of basin - side 2 - detail

Image Source: digital image of a B&W photograph in Stone (1955)

Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE -- IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

view of basin - south side

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in Eden (1909)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of basin - south side

Image Source: digital image of a B&W photograph in Bond (1908)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of basin - south side

Image Source: digital image of an engraving in The Antiquarian Repertory (1807-1809)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of basin - south side

Image Source: digital photograph taken 2 June 2012 by Peter Austin

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (email of 28 January 2013)

view of basin - south side - detail

Image Source: digital image of an engraving in The Antiquarian Repertory (1807-1809)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of basin - upper view

Image Source: digital photograph taken 18 December 2015 by Colin Smith

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 22 January 2016)

view of basin - west side

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in Eden (1909)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of basin - west side

Image Source: digital image of a B&W photograph in Bond (1908)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of basin - west side

Image Source: digital image of an engraving in The Antiquarian Repertory (1807-1809)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of basin - west side - detail

Image Source: digital image of an engraving in The Antiquarian Repertory (1807-1809)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of basin - west side - detail

Image Source: digital image of an engraving in The Antiquarian Repertory (1807-1809)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of basin - west side - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 2 June 2012 by Peter Austin

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (email of 28 January 2013)

view of church exterior

Image Source: digital photograph taken in 2006 by Antony McCallum [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WinCath30Je6-4836wiki.jpg] [accessed 24 January 2016]

Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-3.0

view of church exterior - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 18 December 2015 by Colin Smith

Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail of 22 January 2016)

view of font

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in Holmes (1922)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of font

Image Source: source unknown or not recorded; probably from an engraving in The Antiquarian Repertory (1807-1809)

Copyright Instructions: No known copyyright restriction / Fair Dealing

view of font

Image Source: source unknown or not recorded; probably from an engraving in The Antiquarian Repertory (1807-1809)

Copyright Instructions: No known copyyright restriction / Fair Dealing

view of font

Image Source: digital reproduction of a page from The Illustrated London News [issue of 6 April 1878] in http://www.old-print.com/mas_assets/full/old-antique-victorian-print-B3051880139.jpg [accessed 20 October 2007]

Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE -- IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

view of font

Image Source: detail of a reproduction of a page from The Illustrated London News [issue of 6 April 1878] in http://www.old-print.com/mas_assets/full/old-antique-victorian-print-B3051880139.jpg [accessed 20 October 2007]

Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE -- IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

view of font - north side

Image Source: digital photograph taken 3 August 2010 by Janice Torstevin for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

view of font - northwest side

Image Source: digital photograph taken 3 August 2010 by Janice Torstevin for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

view of font - south side

Image Source: digital photograph taken 3 August 2010 by Janice Torstevin for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

view of font - south side

Image Source: digital image of a 21 June 1998 photograph by BSI

view of font - southeast side

Image Source: digital image of an illustration in Eden (1909)

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of font - southeast side

Image Source: digital photograph taken 3 August 2010 by Janice Torstevin for BSI

Copyright Instructions: Standing permission

view of font in context

Image Source: digital image of a B&W photograph in Jeans (1906) [reproduced in www.fromoldbooks.org]

Copyright Instructions: PD

view of font in context

Image Source: digital image of a B&W photograph "taken [about 1880] by Winchester photographer William Savage (1817-1887) and is found in an album entitled 'Winchester Views of Old Buildings' [Object No.. WINCM.PWCM 3453] [www.winchestermuseumcollections.org.uk]

Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE -- IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

view of font in context

Scene Description: a tiny replica font made of china [cf. FontNotes]

Image Source: digital image in WO1.BE-GREATWAR.BE [http://www.wo1.be/en/db-items/font] [accessed 5 March 2022]

Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE -- IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

INFORMATION

FontID: 00287WIN

Church/Chapel: Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, and of St Peter and St Paul and of St Swithun

Church Patron Saints: The Holy Trinity, St. Peter & St. Paul, St. Swithin, aka Swithun

Church Location: 1 The Close, Winchester SO23 9LS, UK -- Tel.: +44 1962 857 200 - Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm

Country Name: England

Location: Hampshire, South East

Directions to Site: Located at the confluence of the B3404, B3330, B3331, B3420, W of the A31 and the M3, 20-22 km NE of Southampton

Ecclesiastic Region: Diocese of Winchester

Historical Region: Hundred of Buddlesgate [with separate jurisdiction]

Font Location in Church: In the seventh bay of the N arcade

Date: ca. 1129-1171?

Century and Period: 12th century, Late Norman

Workshop/Group/Artisan: Tournai font

Cognate Fonts: The closest example is the font at Zedelghem. Other Tournai fonts at East Meon, St. Mary Bourne, Southampton St. Michael's, Lincoln Cathedral, Thornton Curtis, Ipswich St. Peter's -- The font at Brighton includes another scene form a legend related to St. Nicholas of Myra

Credit and Acknowledgements: We are grateful to Janice Tostevin, Colin Hinson, Peter Austin and Timothy Birt for their additional photographs of this church and font

Church Notes: A church existed in this place in Saxon times; the VCH notes it was abandoned in 1093 when the new cathedral was ready to start services. The cathedral church was under the patronage of Bishop of Winchester, Henry de Blois from 1129-1171, the time when the font is believed to have been brought in.

Font Notes: Click to view font notes

No individual entry for Winchester found in the Domesday survey [some large cities do not appear in Domesday]. Gough (1792) writes: "the font at Winchester commemorated the conversion of the West Saxons, and the establishment of the see". Noted in Milner (1798 and 1839 [cf. AuthorNotes below]). The Antiquarian Repertory (1807-1809), which illustrates part of the basin program, notes: "This antient font stands on the north side of the nave of the Church, is of great antiquity, and of the Saxon times; possibly it might have been removed from the old Monastery." The Repertory (ibid.) gives a very interesting narrative description of the program, totally missing a link with the events of the legend of St. Nicholas and the innkeeper of Myra. Allen (1833) notes similarities between the fonts at Lincoln cathedral, East Meon and Winchester. The suggested date ("Saxon times") and origin (Saxon workmanship) are both way off the mark, and no connection is established with the other English fonts of the type by the author. Mentioned in Britton's Dictionary of 1838 as similar to the font in East Meon. Described in The Mirror of Literature, Amusement and Instruction (no. 969, vol. xxxiv, 21 September 1839: 186) as "one of the most ancient and curious fonts in the kingdom." Pugin (1843) found the iconographic programme on this font totally puzzling and even mentions a salamander on it. Paley (1844) wrongly describes the material of the font as Purbeck marble. Noted in Paley (ibid.) as one of a few fonts on which the salamander appears: "this creature typifies Baptism 'with the Holy Ghost and with Fire'" although, Paley adds, they are "usually represented on fonts as a lizard or a serpent-like animal." In Batty (1848). Illustrated in The Illustrated London News (issue of 6 April 1878). Described in White (1878) as Norman. In Stevens (1880). Romilly Allen (1883-1884) notes three scenes "which are supposed to illustrate events from the life of St Nicholas of Myra" [with a reference to The Reliquary (X: 208)] and suggests it "should be compared with similar representations on the font at Zedelghem". Romilly Allen (1883-1884) adds that "the headgear worn by the figures on the Winchester font and the figure on the tympanum at Tetsworth are the same, being pointed at each side." Illustrated in Ruprich-Robert (1884). Described in Hannah (1886). Described in Cloquet (1895): "la cuve de Winchester est une imitation embellie de celle de Zedelgehm". Noted in Enlart (1902). Noted with an illustration in Jeans (1906). Described in Cox-Harvey (1907) as a "noble example" of Transitional font in black Belgian marble. Described and illustrated in Bond (1908), who dates it probably "to the second half of the twelfth century", and gives details of the legend of St. Nicholas illustrated on the basin sides of this font. The entry for the cathedral in the Victoria County History (Hampshire, vol. 5, 1912) notes; "The history of the Old Minster of Winchester, setting aside the legends of King Lucius, may be said to begin with the coming of St. Birinus in 635 and his conversion to Christianity of King Kynegils. Birinus having made his head-quarters at Dorchester (Oxon), the bishopric of Wessex was administered from thence till his fourth successor Hedda transferred his seat to Winchester, to the church which, as tradition records, Kynegils had founded. [...] St. Athelwold (963–84) greatly enlarged it, or, according to the later account, completely rebuilt it. [...] But the duration of St. Athelwold's building was short. In 1079 Walkelin the first Norman bishop began the great church which still remains in part, and in 1093 it was far enough advanced to be ready for service. The Saxon church was abandoned on 8 April [...] The font stands in the seventh bay of the north arcade, and is one of the black Tournai marble fonts of mid-12th-century date, of which seven exist in England. Carved on it are four scenes from the legend of St. Nicholas, taking up two of the four faces of the bowl; the other two faces have each three circles inclosing doves, or in one instance a lion." Described and illustrated in Ronse (1929) as a baptismal font which appears to have been made by the hands that produced the font at Zedelghem, the iconography of which it shares. Stone (1955) suggests that the seven English examples of this type [cf. Drake 2002, etc., for a comprehensive listing of all Tournai fonts] were imported "in the 1160s" by Bishop Henry of Blois, and that "Henry's attention was probably directed to them by an enterprising merchant of the Tournai trade guild, 'La Charité Saint-Christophe', whose members were especifically permitted to do business at Winchester." On-site notes: the square mounted Tournai font has ornamentation of the legend of St. Nicholas of Myre: the three daughters of nobleman are depicted with braids; birds, beasts & other ornamentation; the basin is square on the outside with a round well; the base is made of a central shaft stem with four thinner colonnettes at the angles; the lower base is square, like the bowl; the upper rim surface of the basin is ornamented with zig-zag and floral motifs at the spandrels; the basin is lead lined with a centre drainage hole; there is no indication of original lid hinges; the south and west sides of the basin have scenes; the east side has three rings with three sets of two birds eating grapes; the north side has three circles: the centre circle has a beast and the two side circles have single birds; the south side depicts a church on the far right, St. Nicholas standing to the left of it and the three daughters of the nobleman; on the far left in the scene is a nobleman; on the western side is the other scene of the legend, showing the axman. Eden (1909) suggests that the representation of the three grape-eating doves on the east side "probably is symbolic of the reception of the Holy Sacrament". [NB: see ImagesArea for a tiny china replica of the old black font at Winchester Cathedral has a curious history. It was sent out from England to Australia to Tubby's mother about 1880, and was used for his christening in December 1885. When Tubby went to France in 1915, it became clear that quite a nummber of those whom he had to deal with had never been baptized. Terefore his mother sent him the font. Finally, it came with Tubby to Poperinge and was used in Talbot House in the next three years for the baptism of some 50 grown men : British, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and British West Indian natives [http://www.wo1.be/en/db-items/font] [accessed 5 March 2022]. We are grateful to Pol Herman for this information].

COORDINATES

Church Latitude & Longitude Decimal: 51.060556, -1.313056

Church Latitude & Longitude DMS: 51° 3′ 38″ N, 1° 18′ 47″ W

UTM: 30U 618214 5657913

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone, limestone (black and blue) (Tournai marble)

Font Shape: square (mounted)

Basin Interior Shape: round

Basin Exterior Shape: square

Drainage Notes: Lead-lined

Rim Thickness: 14-33 cm*

Diameter (inside rim): 72-73 cm* / 71.12 cm*

Diameter (includes rim): 99.06 cm**

Basin Depth: 38 cm* / 38.1 cm**

Height of Basin Side: 36-37 cm* / 38.1 cm***

Basin Total Height: 47 cm* / 46.99 cm**

Height of Base: 53 cm*

Height of Side Columns: 60.96 cm***

Font Height (less Plinth): 100 cm* / 96.52 cm**

Square Base Dimensions: 96 x 100 cm*

Trapezoidal Basin: 99 x 101 cm* / 99.06 cm***

Notes on Measurements: * BSI on-ste / ** ft/in in Eden (1909: 16) / *** ft/in in The Antiquarian Repertory (1807-1809, vol. 3: 191); and "the height of the bas-relief about 1ft"

REFERENCES

Antiquarian repertory: a miscellaneous assemblage of topography, history, biography, customs, and manners, intended to illustrate and preserve sevral valuable remains of old times, London: Printed and published for E. Jeffery, 1807-1809

Victoria County History [online], University of London, 1993-. Accessed: 2011-09-06 00:00:00. URL: https://www.british-history.ac.uk.

Allen, J. Romilly, "Notes on Early Christian Symbolism", N.S., VI, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 1884, pp. 380-464; r["References"]

Allen, Thomas, The History of the County of Lincoln, from the earliest period to the present time [...], London & Lincoln: John Saunders, Junior, 1833-

Andries, J. O., Monographie des fonts baptismaux de Zedelghem, Bruges: [s.n.], 1853

Batsford, Harry, The Cathedrals of England, London: B.T. Batsford Ltd., 1935

Batty, Robert Eaton, Some particulars connected with the history of baptismal fonts: being a paper read at the quarterly general meeting of the Architectural and Archaeological Society for the County of Buckingham, London: F. & J. Rivington, 1848

Bond, Francis, Fonts and Font Covers, London: Waterstone, 1985 c1908

Britton, J., History and Antiquities of the See and Cathedral Church of Winchester, London: [s.n.], 1817

Britton, John, A Dictionary of the Architecture and Archaeology of the Middle Ages, including […], London: Longman, Orne, Brown, Green, and Longmann, Paternoster Row, and the Author, Burton Street, 1838

Clapham, Alfred William, English Romanesque Architecture after the Conquest, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1934

Clarke, Kate M., "The baptismal fonts of Devon -- Part VI", 51, Report and Transactions of the Devonshire Association for the Advancement of Science, Literature and Art, 1919, pp. 211-221; r["References"]

Cloquet, Louis, "Fonts de baptême romans de Tournai", 45, Revue de l'art chrétien, 1895, pp. 308-320; r["References"]

Cox, John Charles, English Church Furniture, New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., 1907

Crossley, Frederick Herbert, English Church Craftsmanship: an Introduction to the Work of the Mediaval Period and Some Account of Later Developments, London: B.T. Batsford, 1941

Davies, J.G., The Architectural Setting of Baptism, London: Barrie and Rockliff, 1962

Drake, Colin Stuart, "Romanesque Fonts in Kent: the French Connections", CXXIII, 2003, Archaeologia Cantiana, 2003, pp. 333-352; r["References"]

Dru Drury, G., "The use of Purbeck in mediaeval times", 70, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1949, pp. 74-98; r["References"]

Dunning, G. C., "Distribution of Black Tournai Fonts", Jan.-Apr. 1944, The Antiquaries Journal, 1944

Eden, Cecil H., Black Tournai Fonts in England, London: E. Stock, 1909

Enlart, Camille, Manuel d'archéologie française depuis les temps mérovingiens jusqu'à la Renaissance, Paris: Alphonse Picard & fils, 1902

Friar, Stephen, The Sutton Companion to Churches, Thrupp, Stroud (Gloucs.): Sutton Publishing, 2003

Gale, S., History and Antiquities of the Cathedral Church of Winchester, London: [s.n.], 1715

Gough, Richard, "Description of the old font in the Church of East Meon, Hampshire, 1789: with some observations on fonts", X, Archaeologia, 1792, pp. 183-209; r["References"]

Hannah, D. D. [Vicar of Brighton], "On the Church of St. Nicholas and its ancient font, with illustrations from other fonts of similar antiquity", XLII, Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 1886, pp. 26-34; r["References"]

Holmes, Edric, Wanderings in Wessex: an Exploration of the Southern Realm from Itchen to Otter, London: Robert Scott Roxburghe House, [1922]

Jeans, George Edward, Memorials of old Hampshire, London: Bemrose & Sons, 1906

Lasteyrie du Saillant, Robert Charles, conte de, Architecture réligieuse en France à l'époque romane (2e éd., avec une bibliographie critique par Marcel Aubert), Paris: A. Picard, 1929

Milner, John, History of the Antiquities of Winchester, Winchester: [s.n.], 1798

Milner, John, Bishop of Castabala, "Font at Winchester", LXVI, ii, The Gentleman's Magazine: or, Trader's monthly intelligencer, 1796, pp. 1012-1013; r["References"]

Oliver, George, Ecclesiastical Antiquities in Devon: being Observations on Several Churches in Devonshire, with some Memoranda for the History of Cornwall, Exeter: W.C. Featherstone, 1840-1842

Oursel, Hervé, Nord roman: Flandre, Artois, Picardie, Laonnois, La Pierre-qui-vire, Yonne: Zodiaque, 1994

Paley, Frederick Apthorp, Illustrations of Baptismal Fonts, London, UK: John van Voorst, 1844

Pike, Joan H.K., "Medieval Fonts of Ireland", [Supplied courtesy of The Dept. of the History of Art, Trinity College, Dublin], [Ireland]: [Privately printed], 1989

Poole, George Ayliffe, The Appropriate Character of Church Architecture, Leeds; London: T.W. Green; Rivington, Burns, and Houlston and Stoneman, 1842

Pugin, Augustus Northmore Welby, The Present State of Ecclesiastical Architecture in England, London: Charles Dolman, 1843

Rolland, Paul, "Les fonts baptismaux tournaisiens: un produit artistique d'exportation aux XIe. et XIIe. siècles", [?], [?], Renaissance de l'art français et des industries de luxe, [1928?], pp. p. [555]-561; r["References"]

Ronse, F. T., Les fonts baptismaux de Zedelghem et les fonts romans tournaisiens du XIIe siècle, Bruges: Apostolat liturgique, 1929

Ruprich-Robert, V., Architecture normande aux XIe et XIIe siècles en Normandie et en Angleterre, Paris: Libraririe des imprimeries réunies, 1884-1889

Speltz, Alexander, Styles of Ornament: a Pictorial Survey of Six Thousand Years of Ornamental Design, New York: Gramercy Books, 1994(c1910)

Stevens, J., "The Font at St. Mary Bourne, Hants", 36, Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 1880, pp. 30-33; r["References"]

Stone, Lawrence, Sculpture in Britain: the Middle Ages, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1955

Sáenz de Ugarte, José Luis, Alava pueblo a pueblo, 1983

Tyrrell-Green, E., Baptismal Fonts Classified and Illustrated, London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge: The Macmillan Co., 1928

White, William, History, gazetteer and directory of the County of Hampshire including the Isle of Wight, and [...], Sheffield: William White, 1878