Eastham nr. Chester

The Journal of the British Archaeological Association (vol. 44, 1888: 205) reported a visit by members of the Association to Eastham church on Friday, 19 August 1887, and noted there a "baptismal font held to be of times anterior to the Conquest". Ellis (1902) notes: "Standing beneath the tower of Eastham church is an excellent example of a font of the Norman period. It is of white stone, and has a massive circular bowl without any other ornament than some simple moulding. It is lined with lead and has a water drain, and is supported on a cylindrical shaft, with plain moulding round the top, middle, and base. This stands on a square base, which in turn rests on a square plinth with cut-off corners. The socket holes, from whence the hasps of the cover-fastening have been removed, are unusually perfect. I heard these holes described by the verger to a visitor as being intended for the support of candles!" Listed in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a baptismal font of the Norman period. Noted in Pevsner (1971): "Font. Rounded and moulded instead of any decoration." In Richards (1973): "The circular font is early twelfth century, simply fashioned, and stand on a cylindrical base. The cover bears traces of having been secured by lock and key to prevent unauthorised persons from disturbing the holy water."