Peterborough No. 1

Sweeting (1926 c1899) writes: "the basin is of a local marble of thirteenth century date, but the lower part is modern. For many years it was used as a flower pot in one of the prebendal gardens, whence it was rescued by Dean Monk and ultimately restored to its original use in the south end of the western transept. It was placed where it is [i.e., 'between the first and seconf piers of the north side of the nave'] in 1920. Another font had been erected in 1615, as appears by an entry in the cathedral register of that date, when the son of one of the prebendaries was baptized 'in the new font in the bodye of the Cathedral Church here.'" Described and illustrated in Bond (1908), who dates it to the 13th century. The Pitkin guide to Peterborough Cathedral (1900) notes: "Bowl is 13th century Alwalton marble and was recovered from a canon's garden in the 1820s. The supports are Victorian." Rounded multi-lobed basin with protruding rim. The basin sides are ornamented with plant-like motifs at the concave joints of the lobes, whereas the convex part is plain. The basin rests on a wide central shaft and four more slender outer columns, all with foliated capitals and moulded bases, resting on a round short platform of similar surface size as that of the basin. The plinth is round and much wider. There is a flat wooden cover with a ring handle in its centre.