Appleton-le-Street / Apeltun / Appleton in Ryedale / Appleton le Street

There is an entry for Appleton [le Street] in the Domesday survey [http://opendomesday.org/place/SE7373/appleton-le-street/] [accessed 28 May 2015], but it mentions neither cleric nor church in it. A font here is described in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a "rude" unmounted cylindrical baptismal font, probably of the early Norman period, but possibly Saxon. The entry for this parish in the Victoria County History (York North Riding, vol. 1, 1914) notes: "The church was confirmed to St. Alban's Abbey, Herts., by Henry II [i.e., 1154-1189] [...] The earliest part of the church is the tower, which probably dates from the first half of the 11th century, though the tower arch appears to have been widened and the north doorway inserted in the 12th century. The plan of the nave is also of pre-Conquest date, but at the beginning of the 13th century the north aisle was added, while at the same time, or perhaps a little later, the chancel and chancel arch were rebuilt, the former being increased in size. About a century later the south aisle was added. Late in the 15th century the chancel was shortened, and at a considerably later date the rough porch was built over the north door. No alterations of a structural nature appear to have been made since, the restorations being almost entirely confined to the roofs. [...] The tub font in the tower may possibly be of 12th-century date." Morris (1931) notes: "Rude, circular, perhaps late 12th-cent. font, similar to, but taller than, that at Amotherby." The Street Parishes web site entry for Appleton-le-Street [www.the streetparishes.org.uk] illustrates the font and notes: "The simple tub-font is Norman and is probably not in its original position." The basin of the font appears roughly cylindrical although seen from above it is almost square with rounded corners; there is no drain hole in the old lead lining now; it was probably welded closed at some point in the past; there ought to be a drain in the stone basin underneath but we are unable to ascertain its existence. The wooden cover is an octagonal pyramid, its shaped not well matched to that of the basin top.