Warbstow / Warbstowe

Noted in Lysons (1806-1833) as one of a group of remarkable fonts in this county, "all nearly alike, being square at the top, with human heads at the corners, and circles inclosing [sic] stars on the sides, supported by serpents, &c." Noted and illustrated in Upcott (1818) with reference to Lyson]. Noted in Lewis' Dictionary of 1848 simply as "a curious Norman font". Noted in 'On the ancient stone fonts of Cornwall' (1851): a good font (circa 1160.) The upper part is square, there are heads at the corners, under which the bowl is rounded off. In each of the four sides is a star with serpents encircling it. The interior of the bowl is circular. Fonts of very similar character are to be found in the churches of S. Nunn, Altarnun ; S. James, Jacobstowe ; S. Peter, Landrake ; S. Thomas by Launceston : and there are curious fonts of different character in the churches of SS. Mevan and Issi, Mevagissey ; S. Stephen by Launceston ; S. Andrew, Whitstone ; S. Marnarch, Lanreath, &c." Described and illustrated in Fryer (1901) as a Norman Transitional font. Listed in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a baptismal font of the Norman Transitional period, as described in Fryer [cf. supra]; the font has squared-top bowl with heads at the angles and large petalled medallions on the sides. Cox (1912) lists this as one of a group of Cornish fonts made from "hard Hicks Mill greystone […] Norm[an], of Altarnun type, square bowl, with heads at angles and circular ornaments on sides". Pevsner (1970) notes: "Font. Altarnun and St Thomas Launceston type, with faces at the four corners and stylized six-petalled flowers in niches on the four sides."