Stonesby

Mentioned in Simpson (1828) as a font of similar design to the one at nearby Waltham on the Wolds [cf. Index entry], but of rather earlier date. Octagonal font of late Norman or Transitional style. The basin has an arcade of intersecting round arches adorned with beaded-tape motif; inside the arcade, "trefoil ornaments of Early English character" (Paley, 1844). The stem of the base is also octagonal with column incised at the corners and small quatrefoil motif on the base sides. The plinth is square. White's Directory of 1877 describes it as "a fine specimen of Norman sculpture." Described in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a late-Transition font, "an interesting example of octagonal interlaced arcading". Noted in Pevsner (1984): "Font. Norman, but totally retooled. Octagonal, with intersected arches and odd flowers and leaves between them (cf. Waltham)." The entry for this church in the CRSBI [https://www.crsbi.ac.uk/view-item?i=3347] [accessed 2 April 2025] notes: "This is placed in the nave opposite the S doorway. Of oolite, the bowl and stem are octagonal. The bowl is carved in shallow-relief with an arcade of intersecting nailhead arches, beneath which are various motifs including the Latin cross in mandorla, rosettes and various long stemmed leaves, trees and flowers. The pedestal has round shafts at the corners, and chip carved X's on the sides. The font has been totally retooled and now looks Victorian. According to a local cottager the 15thc. font was destroyed in the Civil War and replaced at the Restoration by the present one, from elsewhere. If it is original it has been so thoroughly restored as not to look it. I am inclined to think it is a post-medieval pastiche, but it must pre-date 1795 when Nichols recorded that "the font is octagonal, with flowers etc" (RJ). The List description calls it a C12 reworked font. It is closely related to the more elaborate, later font at Waltham-on-the-Wolds, slightly over a mile to the W."