Great Smeaton / Smetheton / Smethyton / Smeton / Smetton / Smitheton / Smitune

There are two entries for [Great] Smeaton [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://opendomesday.org/place/NZ3404/great-smeaton/] [accessed 3 November 2016], neither of which mention cleric or church in it. An engraving of this font [by J.M.W. Turner?] appears in Whitaker (1823), who describes it as a "very curious antique font". Described in Cox (1907) as a noteworthy example of Norman font with good diaper pattern ornamentation. The entry for this parish in the Victoria County History (York North Riding, vol. 1, 1914) notes: "The parish church of ST. ELOY is modern with the exception of a 14thcentury nave arcade [...] a 14th-century arcade of three bays resting on octagonal shafts with moulded capitals and on respond corbels supported on heads. [...] The font is cylindrical, covered with rough diaper work of Norman character." Morris (1931) writes: "Notice the Norman font. The diaper pattern is carried only partly around the bowl, and even what exists remains in three different stages of completion. The font [...] is no doubt genuinely old." Noted in Pevsner (1985): "Font. Drum with lozenge decoration; Norman." On-site notes: cylindrical, unmounted Norman font; the basin has triple romboid motif on its east-side; the west-side half has single romboid motif; the basin inner well has a new lead lining; the lower plinth has a small kneeling stone; the font shows significant restoration and repair work on the west side of the basin; both the upper and lower parts seem to be at least partially original, but the middle part looks like modern concrete.