West Bradenham / Bradeham

Blomefield (1805-1810) writes: "The church is dedicated to St. Andrew, and consists of a nave, a north and a south isle, all built of flint, &c. and covered with lead; the nave is in length about 44 feet, and in breadth, with the two isles, about 36 feet [...] At the west part of the south isle stands a four-square tower of flint, with quoins and battlements of freestone, and on the summit is a small weathercock. In this tower hang three bells [...] The lower part of the tower is open, and serves as a porch to the church, there being a door on the south side. [...] The chancel is separated from the nave by an old wooden screen [...] Thomas de Caley was rector in 1318, and is buried here". The present font is listed in Cox-Harvey (1907) as a baptismal font of the Early English period. Listed in Tyrrell-Green (1928) as one in a very large group of baptismal fonts that are plain octagonal with straightsided basins. Noted in Pevsner & Wilson (1999) with a more likely date: "Probably C14, with pronounced mouldings on foot and stem." Illustrated in Knott (2007). There are mouldings also on the upper side of the basin and on the underbowl; the font is raised on an octagonal-to-square second lower base and a wooden polygonal plinth, both of which appear modern. The wooden cover is octagonal, flat and plain, with a knob handle; modern as well.