Hastings No. 1

A communication in The Gentleman's Magazine issue for August 1786 reads: "In St. Clement's church is a curious antique font [..] on the squares of which are carved, in relievo, the instruments of our Lord's passion"; an engraving of the font and iconographic program are included. Noted in Gough (1792), with reference to the Gentleman's Magazine entry above: "octagon, adorned with the instruments of the passion on shields in quatrefoils". Described and illustrated in Rouse (1825), who has little problem suggesting Norman pedigree to a Perpendicular font: "The Font as described in the drawing, is supposed to be of Norman workmanship, and is a curious specimen of antiquity. It is of an octagon form; on the squares of which are carved, in basso relievo, the instruments of our Saviour's passion. In the shield, on the left compartment, is seen the cross; in the left centre, are the pincers; in the light centre, the sponge and spear; and in the right is the hammer. The shields above are intended to describe those on the opposite side of the octagon; namely, that on the left, the cock; left centre, the pillar and scourges; right centre, blank; and that on the right, the beacon, as used by the Romans, --the ladder, and a spear which is defaced. It is regretted that the zeal which is every where manifested for improvement should sometimes disfigure some of the most curious remains of antiquity, by painting, white washing, &c., of the truth of which remark, this Font is a striking instance; the paint that now covers its surface having materially diminished its former beauty." Rouse (ibid.) further notes that some similarities of detail incline him to suggest that this font may have originally been at St. Dunstan's Palace, in Mayfield. Lewis' Dictionary of 1848 reports: "the font is ornamented on the sides with a sculptured representation of the Passion of the Saviour." Listed in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a baptismal font of the Perpendicular period. Described in Bond (1908) as one of those baptismal fonts in which "the Instruments of the Passion [...] occupy every panel of the bowl." Described in Harrison (1920): "splendid octagonal font (Perp.), sculptured with the Instruments of the Passion—on W., the Cross and Crown of Thorns ; N. scourging post and scourges ; E. lantern on a pole, ladder, and St. Peter's sword ; S. reed and spear crossed ; on the small shields, hammer, pincers, and cock." Described in Whiteman (1994): "The fine octagonal font is early 15th-century and has shields with the instruments of the Passion, including the cross and crown of thorns". [cf. Index entry for Hastings No. 3 for a rectored holy-water basin probably of the same date in this church]