North Bradley

Described and illustrated in Paley (1844) as an octagonal mounted "Perpendicular Font of rather late date, but of good design", the basin has "doubly feathered quatrefoils enclosing shields, four of which are filled with the evangelistic emblems, and the remaining ones with those of the crucifixion." The stem of the base has a trefoil arch on each of the eight sides, the shafts being round and resting on long moulded bases. The plinth is octagonal with a two-step priest's stone. Described in Cox & Harvey (1907): "an apt illustration of dignified work towards the close of the 15th cent.; the octagonal bowl has double-feathered quatrefoils enclosing shields, four of which have the Evangelistic symbols, and the other four those of the Passion." Described and illustrated in Buck (1951) with reference to Paley [cf. supra] and date of the late-14th or early-15th century; Buck (ibid.) gives details of the decoratin on each panel of the basin sides. The Victoria County History (Wiltshire, vol. 8, 1965) notes: "A deed of the earlier 12th century mentions the monasterium of Bradley; (fn. 33) since nothing is known of any religious foundation there, it is probable that it refers to a chapel in the village. [...] A good deal of it was rebuilt in 1862, [...] but the previous building seems to have been carefully copied. [...] The font is a large one of the late 15th century, octagonal, and bearing on its panels symbols of the Passion and emblems of the evangelists." Noted in Pevsner & Cherry (1975): "Font. Good, big Perp[endicular] piece, octagonal with carved shields in foiled fields. On the shields the Signs of the Evangelists and the Instruments of the Passion."