Bakewell / Badequella / Badeqvella

There is an entry for Bakewell [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://domesdaymap.co.uk/place/SK2168/bakewell/] [accessed 20 October 2014], and it reports two priets, a church and church lands in it. The font here is illustrated and described in Carter (1838) [NB: the first edition of this work came out in 1780-1794], where it is stated that "this sculpture is not older than the reign of Edward II", [i.e., 1307+]. Carter identifies some of the figures on the basin sides: "No. 3. seems to represent a bishop with his mitre and crosier; No. 4. perhaps is St. Paul; No. 5. has something like a church in the right hand and a key in the left; No. 6. has in the right hand a flower or branch of a tree on the top of which is a bird, in the left is a book, and on the head is a crown or coronet; No. 7. is a figure seated, with both hands lifted up, and the eyes seem turned towards heaven as if in the act of adoration, and round the head is some appearance of a nimbus; the rest of the figures are all standing; the 8th has in the right hand a scroll in the shape of those in the brass in St. Alban's church, represented in this plate, but if there was ever any inscription on it, it is totally obliterated. It appears by the Saxon Chronicle, that Edward the Elder came from Nottingham to this place, in the year 924, and commanded a town and castle to be built here. Perhaps the building of the church may be referred to this time, No. 6. may represent the King, and No. 5. this church." Noted in Gough (1792) as "adorned with Apostles and Saints". Noted in Lysons (1806-1833) as "large, and in the Gothic style, ornamented with figures, very rudely executed, in bas-relief." In Glover (1831) probably after Lysons. Cox (1875-1877) refers to the earlier opinions on the assigned antiquity of this font but states that the earliest date for the font could be the beginning of the Decorated period at the close of the 13th centuy. Cox (ibid.) further comments on the inscription "Sista (?) Mater" that Lysons claimed to have noted on the font at the time of his visit ca. 1812, and notes that it probably was "on the scroll held by one of the figures that faces south." Cox (ibid. gives his own interpretation of the figures, and indicates that he has little faith in the identifications put forward by Revd. R. R. Rawlings. Romilly Allen (1888) mentions "a fragment of an old font with the name of St. Mark inscribed" in Bakewell. [NB: Cox (ibid) mentions among a number of old fragments in this church, "half of what is described as an old font, and which must have been octagonal when perfect. It is of Early English date. We are more inclined to regard it as a pulpit, but it is so built up with other fragments, that it is difficult now to come to any conclusion. The evangelistic emblem of a winged lion, with the word 'Marcus' carved below it, can plainly be distinguished on one of the faces." -- not entered separately in this Index]. Described in Cox & Harvey (1907) as an octagonal font of the Decorated style with unusual size and treatment. Described in Tyrrell-Green (1928) as a polygonal tub-like font of the Decorated style "where figures of bishopd and saints occupy the arches of a foliated and crocketed arcade". Noted in Pevsner (1978): "Font. Early C14, octagonal, without a separate stem. Whole figures under broad crocketed ogee arches. One of them Christ seated." Described in Karlsson (1981). On-site notes: eight figures are carved on the sides of the basin: 1) Bishop with mitre and crozier; 2)St.Paul? with sword and book; 3) St. Peter; 4) The Virgin? female figure crowned with fleur-de-lis and book; 5) Christ Enthroned in Orant posture; 6) St. John the Evangelist; 7) St. John the Baptist; 8) Priest with a book; the metal lid staples are still visible in the rim; the bowl is lined with lead; the octagonal wooden cover appears to be of the Jacobean style and period; the font is now raised on a two-step plinth. Cox (1887) reports the presence of a large fragment of sculpture found in the porch at his time, "described as an old font, and which must have been octagonal when perfect. It is of Early English date. We are more inclined to regard it as a pulpit, but it is so built up with other fragments, that it is difficult now to come to any conclusion." [NB: no separate entry made in the Index for this object]