Altcar / Acrer / Aldekar / Alkar / Alker / Altcarre / Altekar / Althekar / Great Altcar

No individual entry found for Altcar in the Domesday survey. Ellis (1902) notes: "Another old font, in even worse condition than that at Formby, lies in the churchyard at Altcar, in company with the base of a cross and another font of the sundial pattern of the eighteenth century. The older one is an irregular heptagon. with angle produced and grooved spoutlike, about a foot in diameter, and 4 or 5 inches deep. There is no trace of ornament, and it is not perforated for drainage. Its age can scarcely be decided, but it was most certainly in use in the wooden church that existed here in 1558 [...] The sundial-like font, standing close by, bears the initials "I.W. : T.A." and the date 1747." [NB: the older font noted in Ellis (ibid.) does not appear to have been originally a font at all, regardless of whether or not it was used as one; the measurements and shape ["grooved spoutlike"] would be better suited to a grain measure or quern that a baptismal font]. Cox & Harvey (1907) list a baptismal font of the Decorated period in this church. The entry for this parish in the Victoria County History (Lancaster, vol. 3, 1907) notes: "The earliest record of any church or chapel at Altcar is that in the lease of 1429, already given, but there can be little doubt that religious worship had been maintained in the manor-house, to which the chapel would adjoin, from the time the monks of Merivale received possession of it [...] The church existing in the seventeenth century is said to have been of timber and plaster [...] the church is supposed to have been destroyed by fire, and a new one was built, a royal brief in 1743 raising a certain portion of the cost. The new building was consecrated in 1747 [...] The present church of St. Michael [...] was built in 1879, the former one being pulled down. [...] An old font lies in the churchyard, in company with the base of a cross and the font (sundial pattern) of 1747." Pevsner (1969) reports no early furnishings or even an earlier church other than the present one erected in 1879 by John Douglas [for the Earl of Sefton?]. The web page for the West Lancashire District Towns & Villages [www.lancslinks.org.uk] with information from Lancashire Towns [www.lancstowns.co.uk] reports: "in the churchyard are a pedestal font and a stoup which are from earlier churches on the same site."