Winster / Winsterne

There is an entry for Winster [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://domesdaymap.co.uk/place/SK2460/winster/] [accessed 2 March 2015], but it mentions neither cleric nor church in it. A font here is noted in Lysons (1806-1833) as one of two fonts in this county [the other font mentioned is Mellor] that "are large and circular, ornamented with rude sculptures in bas-relief." In Glover (1831) probably after Lysons. Kelly's Directory of 1891 notes: "ancient font, probably Late Norman, cir. 1200, consists of a circular basin with cable margin, resting on an octagonal sloping base, both being rudely but vigorously sculptured". Described and illustrated in Cox (1875-1877) as the old font of this church: "The font itself is circular, but it rests on an octagonal base, that reminds us of one in the Rectory garden at Matlock. Both font and base are rudely sculptured, but with much vigour, and the whole is in good preservation. The former has a cable moulding running round the margin, and the circumference is divided into six sculptures. The one facing east, is of two children holding a book, two of the others have the monogram 'Ihc,' and another the more unusual but older monogram of the two first letters of the Green rendering of Christ. Three sides of the octagon base are plain, two have a lily springing from a pot (one of the emblems of the Virgin), another the Virgin and child, another a head out of folds of drapery, and another a half-length nuxde figure in a font. The characteristics of this font are contradictory as to age, but on the whole we think the balance of opinion is in favour of its being of late Norman or Transition design, circa 1200." Described in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a noteworthy example of Norman fonts. Pevsner (1978) notes: "Font. A puzzling piece; circular, tub-shaped bowl on a conical foot. The carvings of a style that could be a Tudor imitation of Norman. Bunting (2001) describes the decoration "of the same period as the vessel at Tissington", which it certainly is not [is Bunting referring to a different font?]. On-site notes: cylindrical shape decorated with braid on upper side, then with eight panels that include a baptism scene (?), anagrams, etc; foliage around the lower side overlapping onto the graded underbowl; octagonal base in the shape of a truncated pyramid; the eight panels are decorated with human figures and foliage/plant motifs. Not a Norman font, though it imitates the style of some Norman motifs; similar shape as the font at St.Helen's Darley Dale, only much larger; the inner well is lined with lead and has metal staples in the rim indicating that there was an earlier lid over the font. It should be dated as a very late work, if original, to the 15-16th century, otherwise even later, and it incorporates motifs from several periods. The two parts of the font are suspiciously clean and look as if they have been cleaned [re-tooled?]. The lower plinth-base of the two parts, is older stone - at least it has not been cleaned and looks rougher, more worn. It probably belongs to the same "imitation group" as the one at Darly Dale, unless is a partially re-carved object. The basin has a central drain hole.