Bygrave / Biggrafan / Bigrave

Bond (1908) notes an octagonal baptismal font of the 15th century; the panels of the basin sides are taller than they are wide, and are ornamented with the symbols of the Instruments of the Passion; the chamfer has floral and/or foliage motifs; the stem of the base has shields with human busts (angels?) hoding them and the lower base is square with prismatic corners; the font cover is also octagonal at the base forming into a pointed dome "reminding one of the little ogee cappings of the turrets of many a Jacobean hall" (Bond, ibid.) Noted in the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, Hertforshire (1911): "Font: octagonal, basin carved with the heraldry of the Passion, the stem with angels, 15th-century." The Victoria County History (Hertford, vol. 3, 1912) notes: "The church [...] of unknown dedication [...] was given to the monks of St. Albans by William de Wedona and assigned with Monks' Lands to the use of the kitchen. [...] The nave is the earliest part of the church, and belongs to the 12th century, the chancel to the latter part of the 14th century, and the west turret to the 15th century [...] The font belongs to the 15th century; it is octagonal, standing on a square base. The sides of the basin have rectangular sunk panels, carved with the instruments of the Passion; round the stem are angels holding shields. The wooden cover is a bastard Gothic of perhaps the 18th century." Tompkins (1922) notes an "octagonal font (about 1420-40)". Noted in Pevsner & Cherry (1977): "Font: Octagonal with rectangular panels showing the Instruments of the Passion."