Thoroton

Noted in the first annual meeting of The Thoroton Society (1897): "very ancient font, on which are traces of the lock and hasp with which the lid anciently was fastened down". Described in Cox & Harvey (1907) and in Guilford (1927) as a circular baptismal font of the Norman period. Cox (1912) matches the date of the font with that of the north arcade to the late Norman period. Pevsner & Williamson (1979) mention "a minute double-splayed Saxon window" from an earlier church, but not a font. The font is noted and illustrated in the Southwell Churches website [http://southwellchurches.nottingham.ac.uk/thoroton/pfont.jpg] [accessed 5 January 2009]: "plain chamfered round font with C14 base, restored". It now consists of a cylindrical basin with chamfered top and bottom, raised on a later-date cylindrical stem decorated with mouldings at the ends, and raised on a modern octagonal plinth. The font appears to have been re-tooled and there is evidence of new-stone insert repairs, especially at the upper rim; it may now lokkk quite differently from the original design [NB: the historical notes on this church in the Southwell Churches site [cf. supra] note that the church was struck by lightning in 1868, which resulted in much damage and "prompted a major restoration to be set in motion under John Hakewill of London. The faculty, dated 23 April 1869, requested permission, since the church and chancel were ‘out of repair’ and in need of ‘immediate restoration’, to ‘take down the whole of the said chancel and rebuild the same together with a new vestry and organ chamber on the north side. To take off the roof from the nave and re-roof the same, to take down so much of the clerestory walls as will be necessary to reduce the same to the required pitch for the new roof, to take down the porch and rebuild the same, to take down the north wall of the said church and build a new north aisle setting it out to the extent shown upon the plans, to remove the seats and take up the floors and re-floor and reseat the whole of the said church, to restore the tower spire, the nave and the south aisle, to remove the font to the position shown upon the plans and restore the same and to make certain other alterations and improvements according to certain plans and specifications".