Shepreth / Esceprid / Escepride

There are six entries for Shepreth [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://opendomesday.org/place/TL3947/shepreth/] [accessed 16 May 2016], none of which mention cleric or church in it. Cox & Harvey (1907) list a noteworthy example of baptismal font of the Norman period here. Tyrrell-Green (1928) writes: "The feeling towards an octagonal font by the chamfering of the angles of square font-bowls is apparent in some examples of the Norman period, as at Shepreth (Cambs) and St. Mary's Thetford (Suffolk)". This octagonal basin is, as Tyrrell-Green points out, rather a tentative departure from the square bowl it suggests, more so perhaps due to the curled scrolls carved on the chamfered sides (every other side). The base consists of a central shaft with four outer colonnettes; the centre and three of the outer are matched, but one of the colonnettes is not suggesting that either one is a replacement, or four are; the columns rest on an irregular lower base or plinth, square and plain. A flat wooden cover with metal reinforcements appears modern. Kelly's Directory of this county for 1929 records "an ancient font of Barnack stone" in this church. Pevsner (1970) notes: "Font. C13, on five circular supports. The bowl octagonal but connected in the diagonals with the five supports by volutes meeting at the corners." The Victoria County History (Cambridge..., vol. 5, 1973) notes: "Architectural evidence shows that Shepreth church had been built by the mid 12th century. [...] The narrow chancel arch dates from the earlier 12th century [...] The eight-sided font bowl, of the 12th or 13th century, has a carved volute at the base of each short diagonal side; it is supported on five shafts of the 13th century."