Gillamoor / Gillamore

Whellan (1859) reports: ''There is an old Norman font thrown aside in the churchyard, whilst an unsightly apology ofr a font is used for baptisms in the Chapel'' [NB: this ''chapel'' is described as a 'chapel at ease' dating from 1802. Pevsner (1996), who does not mention a font here, informs that the interior was ''refurnished by T. Moore, 1908'']. Bulmer's Directory of 1890 notes: ''The old font in the church is supposed to belong to the Norman Period'' [NB: which appears to indicate that the old font had been returned inside the church by that time]. The 'antiquarian news' section of The Antiquary (issue No. 34, vol. 6, October 1882: 178) reports: ''The re-opening, after thorough internal restoration, of the ancient church of Gillamoor, near Kirbymoorside, took place recently […] The foundation is very ancient, as betokened by the fine old Norman font''. Described in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a baptismal font of the Norman period. The Victoria County History (York North Riding, vol. 1, 1914) notes: ''the font […] is formed of a massive circular block of stone tapering slightly towards the base. It is entirely without ornament and probably dates from the 12th century''. The font, illustrated in Pat O'Halloran [http://www.danu.co.uk/Joomla/content/view/68/27/] [accessed 12 July 2008], consists of a rougly cylindrical shape with tapering sides, raised on a modern circular base and plinth. The sides of the basin are damaged and very weathered, and it is now impossible to discern whether any pattern adorned its surface originally.