Rolvenden

Described and illustrated in an engraving by Orlando Jewitt on a drawing by R.C.H. in Paley (1844): hexagonal mounted font of the 14th century, Decorated style. Described in Parker (1850). Paley's illustration shows only three sides of the basin, one with a shield and the other two with a different motif on each, a three-arm "S" and a quatrefoil, each in a circle. Paley (Ibid.) reports that all sides of the basin "are ornamented with panels or shields", and identifies the coats of arms as "those of the Culpeper and Guldeford, who were connected by marriage; and it is not improbable that the Font was the joint gift of those families" (ibid.). The stem of the base is hexagonal as well but the volume of the lower base is square. The font "formerly stood under the westermost pillar, on the north side of the nave, but was removed when the Church was new pewed, and disused for many years, till the present Vicar, the Rev. John Hooper, had it placed opposite the priest's door in the chancel." (ibid.) [NB: the font appears to have been moved again: the entry for Rolvenden in VillageNet.co.uk [accessed 19 July 2006] locates the font "at the western end of the south aisle"]. Noted, with an illustration. in Hussey (1852) as a font of the Decorated period. Hexagonal wooden cover, low-pyramidal type with ball finial, of the 18th century. [NB: the 19th-century font at Sonning, Berkshire, is said to have been designed based on this font (Henry Woodyer, 2002)] [current -March 2000- images of the font can be seen at the web site: [http://gen.culpeper.com/places/intl-eng/rolvenden.htm]. Noted in Glynne (1877). Listed in Cox & Harvey (1907) as one of a few hexagonal fonts in England later than the 14th century [others cited in C&H are: Faringdon, Outwell, Kegworth and Sleaford]. A recent [October 2001] photograph of this font by Pam Connell, can be found in the Kent Archaeological Society web site [ref.: Rolvenden TQ8431]. Noted in Newman (1980): "Font. Hexagonal. On the bowl shields, encircled quatrefoils, and one mouchette wheel. Peculiar fins at the base."