Southover nr. Lewes

Described by Paley (1844) as a "massive square Norman bowl, of Caen stone, supported on a central circular shaft, and four smaller octagonal ones, with foliated capitals and bases, resting on square plinths". Paley (ibid.) also informs that he font was moved from its original location on the west side to the centre of the nave, on the east side (ibid.). Listed in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a baptismal font of the Norman period. Walker (1908) describes it as whitewashed and notices a shield on a capital of one of the four shafts. Harrison (1920) notes a restored Norman font in this church. Listed in Tyrrell-Green (1928) as a square basin mounted on a columnar base; Norman period. The Victoria County History (Sussex, vol. 7, 1940) notes: "Southover is first mentioned at the end of the 11th century, [...] and was presumably the parish originally served by the pre-Conquest wooden church of St. Pancras which William de Warenne rebuilt and made the nucleus of his priory [...] It appears probable that the church of St. John the Baptist was originally the hospitium at the gate of the Priory of St. Pancras and that it was converted into a parish church in the 13th century [...] The oldest part of the fabric is the arcade to the aisle, which is carried on large drum-like piers of the latter half of the 12th century. [...] The fittings are modern, with the exception of the font, which is of uncertain date." The VCH entry (ibid.) shows the churches interior plan, on which the font appears located at the west end of the nave, south side, by the arcade of the south aisle. On the destoyed Cluniac Priory of St. Pancras nearby Harrison (1920) writes: "was founded by William de Warenne in 1077. The church was a fine building, over 400 feet long, and had a large cloister and other adjuncts. So complete was the destruction at the Dissolution in 1537, that its site was forgotten until the railway cutting revealed it. The few fragments of stone are worth visiting by the antiquary. The carved stones in the castle museum are specimens of the work."