North Grimston / Grimeston / Grimestone / Grimstone / North Grimstone

There are three entries for [North] Grimston [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://opendomesday.org/place/SE8467/north-grimston/] [accessed 4 November 2016], one of which mentions a church and 0.5 church lands in it. Glynne's 21 April 1842 visit to this church (in Butler, 2007) includes a description of its font: "The font is an excellent Norman one upon a step, the form circular with the rope moulding round the top; it is surrounded by rude sculpture within slightly pointed arches, in which appear the figures of the twelve Apostles, of St. Nicholas, and a representation of the Crucifixion, with the Virgin Mary and St. John, which last faces the east. The glories round the heads are singular in their character, and the whole is particularly curious and a well preserved early specimen." Noted in Lewis' Dictionary of 1848 simply as "a curious font". The National Gazetter of 1868 describes it as "a large stone font, carved from scriptural subjects". The Antiquary (issue No. 35, vol. 6, November 1882: 221) reports a visit by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society to the Norman church at North Grimston, "with its remarkable sculptured font". Bulmer's History and Directory of the East Riding (1892) writes: "The font, which is large enough for immersion, is undoubtedly Saxon, and adorned with sculptured representations of "The Crucifixion," "The Last Supper," and the patron saint of the church with his crozier." Described in Cox-Harvey (1907) as one of "a highly remarkable series of elaborately carved Norman fonts which occur on the Wolds" [the others are: Cottam, Cowlam and Kirkburn]. Bond (1908) mentions a Descent of the Cross shown on it, as well as a depiction of the Last Supper. Home (1908) notes: "a splendid font, of similar age and shape to those of Cowlam and Cottam. A large proportion of the surface is taken up with a wonderful 'Last Supper', and on the remaining space the carvings show the 'Descent from the Cross', and a figure, possibly representing St. Nicholas, the patron saint of the church." Described and illustrated in Tyrrell-Green (1928), who qualifies it as a crude representation of the Last Supper. Photographed and painted by John Piper [the photograph is dated 1936; the print of the Deposition appeared in a book at a later date]. An article by Wally Simpkin in the Driffield Post-Driffield Times [www.driffieldtoday.co.uk/wally-simpkins-look-at-east-riding-history/Ancient-fonts.2085398.jp] [accessed 1 July 2008] notes: "Nearly three quarters of the surface is occupied by a representation of the Lord's Supper. Our Lord is seated at a table, in the centre, having six apostles standing on either side of Him. Both hands are raised, the left in prayer, the right in blessing. Each alternate apostle holds a knife in his right hand, and the right hands of all are resting on the table, with the exception of one who places his left hand on the table. Can this figure be meant for Judas? Nine hold books in their left hand placed against the breast. On the table in front of the Lord are a fish, a cup, a flat cake, a knife and a wine flask. In front of the apostles there are three of each kind of the above on either side of the centre, with the exception of the knife. The next scene represents the Descent from the Cross, which is unique on fonts. The right hand of the saviour is already detached from the cross, and is being held by Nicodemus, while Joseph of Arimathaea is clasping it in support till the other nail shall be removed. The remaining figure is that of an ecclesiastic, vested, and wearing a stole. The right hand is raised in blessing, the left holds a pastoral staff with head turned outwards. It is supposed to represent the patron saint, St Nicholas, whose image is to be seen on the west side of the tower." On-site notes: cylindrical (though slightly narrower at the top) unmounted font with an iconographic program; besides the images mentioned above, there is also a picture of a cleric or bishop [St. Nicholas?], a priest wearing stoles and holding hand up in sign of benediction. The font is lead lined [the lead lining new ca. 2009] and has an iron cover, flat, modern with ring for centre handle; it bears an inscription with the New Testament quote: "Suffer little children…"]. The upper rim of the basin has thick rope motif. The font is mounted on a wide circular plinth. A 1964 John Piper lithograph of the Deposition scene on this font, one of five proofs from Piper's book 'A Retrospect of Churches', sold at Christie's (lot 83 / sale 5019) sold for GBP 456 / USD 797 in 2006.
A 3-D model of this font made by GeoLan 3D may be seen in Sketchfab [https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/norman-drum-font-north-grimston-yorks-6fdf4ded1f804e0a80f334626fd24c84] [accessed 25 July 2025]; its caption reads: "Norman Drum Font, North Grimston, Yorkshire. Superb Norman drum font, decorated with scenes from the Last Supper and the Descent from the Cross. The font has an attractive probably 19th century cover, and so both covered and uncovered versions are shown."
Another 3-D model of this font made by Carolyn Twomey may be seen in Sketchfab [https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/north-grimston-baptismal-font-1bc8849052dd438cb4095d6ec3dfa858] [accessed 25 July 2025]; its caption reads: "Described by Nikolaus Pevsner in 1972 as “a mighty and barbaric piece,” the baptismal font at North Grimston (E. Yorkshire) dominates the nave of its contemporary early 12th-century church. The drum of North Grimston has a cable molded rim and a series of scenes within an arcade: Christ’s Descent from the Cross, the Last Supper with Christ enthroned, a geometric panel, and an ecclesiastical figure commonly attributed as St Nicholas after the medieval dedication of the church. The sheer size of the North Grimston font—nearly a metre in diameter—advertised the expense of quarrying and transporting the calcareous grit (finegrained sandstone) from appropriately sized beds in North Yorkshire."