South Hill nr. Callington / Southill

Main image for South Hill nr. Callington / Southill

Image copyright © [in the public domain]

PD

Results: 6 records

B01: animal - fabulous animal or monster - dragon or salamander?

other smaller ones (?) below
Scene Description: other smaller ones (?) below
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © [in the public domain]
Image Source: Tyrrell-Green (1928: fig. 84)
Copyright Instructions: PD

BBU01: design element - patterns - geometric

imitating a crenellation pattern all around the upper basin side
Scene Description: imitating a crenellation pattern all around the upper basin side
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © [in the public domain]
Image Source: Tyrrell-Green (1928: fig. 84)
Copyright Instructions: PD

BH01: human figure - head - 4

one at each angle of the upper basin side
Scene Description: one at each angle of the upper basin side
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © [in the public domain]
Image Source: Tyrrell-Green (1928: fig. 84)
Copyright Instructions: PD

view of font

Font image
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © [in the public domain]
Image Source: Tyrrell-Green (1928: fig. 84)
Copyright Instructions: PD

view of church exterior - southwest view

Source caption: "St Samsons Church, South Hill. This church is the main feature of the hamlet of South Hill which also gives its name to the surrounding rural parish. The church was dedicated in 1333 and like most parish churches in Cornwall was restored in the 19th century."
Scene Description: Source caption: "St Samsons Church, South Hill. This church is the main feature of the hamlet of South Hill which also gives its name to the surrounding rural parish. The church was dedicated in 1333 and like most parish churches in Cornwall was restored in the 19th century."
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Tony Atkin, 2006
Image Source: digital photograph 14 October 2006 by Tony Atkin [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/260952] [accessed 20 November 2023]
Copyright Instructions: CC-BY-SA-2.5

view of font

a recent [ca. 2005?] view of the baptismal font
Scene Description: a recent [ca. 2005?] view of the baptismal font
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © www.caerkief.co.uk, 2005
Image Source: Digital image in www.caerkief.co.uk
Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE -- IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

INFORMATION

Font ID: 01465SOU
Object Type: Baptismal Font1
Font Century and Period/Style: 12th - 13th century, Late Norman / Transitional?
Workshop/Group/Artisan: Cornish font, Bodmin group
Cognate Fonts: Bodmin, St. Austell, St. Gorran, St. Kea, Luxulyan, Newlyn East, Tregoney, St. Veryan (of the same group but with plain bowls are: St. Ewe and Lamorran -- with shields: St. Mawgan-in-Pidar)
Church / Chapel Name: Church of St. Sampson
Font Location in Church: Inside the church
Church Patron Saint(s): St. Samson [aka Sampson † 565]
Church Address: South Hill, Callington PL17 7LP, United Kingdom -- Tel.: +44 1579 370557
Site Location: Cornwall, South West, England, United Kingdom
Directions to Site: Located just E of the A388, between Saltash and Launceston, 2-3 km NW of Callington
Font Notes:
Noted in Lysons (1806-1833) as one of a group of Cornish fonts that includes Bodmin, “St. Austell, St. Columb-Minor, Crantock, Cuby, St. Dennis, St. Gorran, Luxulion, Newlyn, Roche, Southill, Tintagell, Veryan, and St. Wen”. Noted in 'On the ancients stone fonts of Cornwall' (1851): "The next that I shall describe is that at S. Sampson's, South Hill ; it is of a character similar to the example at Kea, but inferior in proportion and detail. On two of its sides are represented boldly sculptured floriated ornaments, and on the other two, dragons and lions. Beneath the dragon are two four-leaved flowers, of Middle-Pointed aspect: these may have been added in the fourteenth century, but, at all events, the font itself is undoubtedly of Romanesque date, (circa 1090). There are angular heads, as at Kea, but the shafts have no base mouldings." Listed in Cox-Harvey (1907) and (1912) as an excellent example of baptismal fonts of the Bodmin group of Cornwall, ornamented with dragons or salamanders. Tyrrell-Green (1928) lists it also as part of the Bodmin group; the font is of the "suspended" type in which the basin is supported by a single broad column in the centre, while four outer shafts at 90-degree angles reach all the way to the upper rim; in this font each upper portion of the column has a human head; around the upper rim sides, a pattern similar to crenellation all around except where the heads protrude; the sides of the basin and underbowl are ornamented with a dragon and other animals, Tree of life, etc. The whole appears raised on a low square plinth. Pevsner (1970) notes: "Font. Norman, St Austell type, with corner faces. 'trees of life', and long animals in profile."

COORDINATES

UTM: 30U 403751 5598408
Latitude & Longitude (Decimal): 50.5297, -4.358
Latitude & Longitude (DMS): 50° 31′ 46.92″ N, 4° 21′ 28.8″ W

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone, type unknown
Font Shape: hemispheric, mounted
Basin Interior Shape: round
Basin Exterior Shape: round (heads)

REFERENCES

  • "On the ancient stone fonts of Cornwall: a communication", 83 (April 1851) / New Series no. 47, Ecclesiologist, 1851, pp. 96-102; p. 98
  • Cox, John Charles, Cornwall, London: George Allen & Company, 1912, p. 17, 215
  • Cox, John Charles, English Church Furniture, New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., 1907, p. 189, 191, 193
  • Lysons, Daniel, Magna Britannia, being a concise topographical account of the several counties of Great Britain, London: Printed for T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1806-1822, vol. III: p. ccxxiii
  • Pevsner, Nikolaus, Cornwall, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1970, p. 214
  • Tyrrell-Green, E., Baptismal Fonts Classified and Illustrated, London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge: The Macmillan Co., 1928, p. 127 and fig. 84 on p. 128