Screveton / Screuintone / Screvetone / Screvinton / Screvintun

Throsby (vol. 1, 1790) notes "a curious old font, in high preservation" in this church. Noted in the Transactions of the Thoroton Society (1: 1897): "beautiful Norman (transition) Font, dating about 1170". Listed in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a noteworthy example of late Norman font. Described and illustrated in an article entitled 'Screveton Churches', by the Rev. J. Standish, originally published in the Transactions of the Thoroton Society, 12 (1908), reproduced in the 'Nottinghamshire History and Archaeology' site [www.nottshistory.org.uk/articles]: "The font [...] possesses a beautiful arcade of intersecting arches, with pillars that are practically disengaged from the body of the font. Above the arcade, the rim of the font is adorned with leaf work and a continuous piece of cable work, one strand of which is enriched with the nail-head ornament. The arcading runs closer on the western side, and indicates that the mason has worked without any plan or any preliminary striking, out of his design. At the ends of a diameter of the font, running north and south, it should be noticed that the font has been repaired by two pieces of new Roche stone, given by Lord Scarbrough to the present rector. Apparently the font has possessed a lid, with hinge at one side and hasp at the other." Rev. Standish informs that "about 1170 is the date generally given, and it is spoken of as transitional Norman" but, after comparing its carving to several others, he resolves: "I am inclined to think that this Screveton font may well be from thirty to forty years older than it is generally said to be." The font appears in his illustration with a flat wooden cover, modern, topped with a Latin cross finial, obviously not the one that had the original locking hardware. The font is similar to the font at Sandridge, in Hertfordshire [cf. Index entry]]. Described and illustrated in Cox (1912) with a photograph by J. Charles Wall: "Oldest extant feature is fine and wellpreserved late Norm[an] font, c. 1175. Bowl encircled with interlaced arcading and a foliaged border above; 3 ft. in diameter, and 2 ft. 3 in. high. Flat cover c. 1660." In Guilford (1927). In Pevsner & Williamson (1979).