Droitwich No. 1 / Wich / Wiche

There are eleven entries for Droitwich [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://domesdaymap.co.uk/place/SO8963/droitwich/] [accessed 16 September 2014], it being spread over seven counties, from Worcestershire through Oxfordshire; only one of the eleven entries, the holding for which Leofnoth the priest was lord, reports a priest in it but there is no mention of a church, though there probably was one there. Noakes (1852) writes: "In the north aisle or chapel [...] is a curious and probably ancient font: it stands on a square shaft, with angular feet, and is decorated with rude devices of lozenges, circles and other tracery; the basin is capacious enough to hold the infant when immersed." This must be the same font noted in Miller (1890) as having survived the great fire of 1293 that practically destroyed the church [cf. Index entry for Droitwich No. 3]. A different font is described in Bond (1908) as one of several "well meant fonts put up between the Reformation and the Rebellion." [i.e., 1515-1530 to 1745]. Illustrated in a 1833 drawing by John Buckler, in the William Salt Library, Staffordshire Archive [www.archives.staffordshire.gov.uk/DServe/dserve.exe?&dsqIni=DserveV.ini&dsqApp=Archive2&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqSearch=(RefNo=='WA1/3/3/285')] [accessed 25 November 2007]: "'Droitwich, Worcestershire. Font in Saint Andrew's Church.' Showing a round bowled font with a square shaft and base, with decorative carving. 'J. Buckler.' 5 inches x 5.75 inches". Described in Brooks & Pevsner (2007): "Font. Probably Jacobean. Square stem with lozenges, goblet bowl with other elementary geometrical motifs [...]. Sweet C17 cover, with turned balusters."