Sutton Bonnington No. 1 / Sutton Bonington

Described and illustrated in Bond (1908) as a baptismal font of the 14th century; the octagonal bowl has a large quatrefoil motif on every-other panel, while three of the other sides have angular brackets projecting from the rim, two small one and one larger, not hollowed, but flush with the rim; Bond (ibid.) suggests they may have served to support the [portable] basin, cruets of holy oil, etc. The underbowl is a tall chamfer and the base is a mirror image of the chamfer, octagonal and plain; the lower base is wider, also octagonal, and has a large moulding all around. The plinth is octagonal as well. Cox & Harvey (1907) and Guilford (1927) list this as a font of the Decorated period. Described and illustrated in Cox (1912) with a photograph by Rev. R. O. Yearsley: "Octagonal 14th cent. Font has quatrefoils on alternate panels, 4 ft. high, and 2 ft. 6 in. in diameter. Noteworthy in having 3 projecting brackets level with rim. Largest of these, with surface of 9 in. by 8 in. , was probably intended to res the bowl into which fell water from child's head at time of baptism by affusion, and the other smaller ones, each 6 in. across, for salt, taper, or other accessories of mediaeval baptism.. This font should be compared with those of Odiham, Hants, and Youlgreave, Derbyshire, &c." Noted in Pevsner & Williamson (1979) with 14th-century date. [NB: a cognate font, but without the projections, at St. Anne's, the other church in South Bonington]