Aberdour

Described and illustrated in MacGibbon & Ross (1896-1897, v. III: 535-536 and fig. 1503), where it is shown inverted, with what appears to be a sundial (?) carved on the bottom of the well; the font is polygonal [hexagonal? / octagonal?] with a tall chamfered underbowl; some popular sources claim that the font is older than the church [one source, kerryscorner.homestead.com, states the it "was brought from the chapel Den, about four miles to the westward, where it is said, there was another place of worship."]; this same source refers to the the church of St Fillan as having been restored in 1925; it "now [2001] serves the Aberdour parish again". A current illustration of the font in situ appears in [www.electricscotland.com/historic/grampian.html] supplied by The Bard of Banff, where it is stated that the font is hexagonal; the font is shown on a ledge of the exterior of the church edifice, well exposed to the elements, and with a coat of lichens on it. [NB: the current church was built in the 16th century and, despite the exagerated claims noted above, it is quite possible that the basin dates not too far from that time]. There is a nearby well claimed by some to be the baptismal source used by St. Drostan in the 8th century]