Arundel / Harundele

Beattie (1844) indicates that by 1380 part of the former "Alien Priory, or Cell of St. Nicholas", dating from the early-12th century constituted part of the parochial church here, and he reports in it "an ancient octagon stone font". Noted in Cox & Harvey (1907) and in Harrison (1920) as a noteworthy baptismal font of the Perpendicular period. Described and illustrated in Tyrrell-Green (1928) as an octagonal mounted baptismal font of the Perpendicular period. The Victoria County History (Sussex, vol. 5, pt. 1, 1997) notes: "A minster establishment which existed at Arundel in 1086 [...] seems to have been founded before the Conquest [...] The church of St. Nicholas [...] a uniform structure of the later 14th century and earlier 15th [...] The octagonal font of Sussex marble has cusped arcading on both bowl and stem; in 1834 it was painted in stone colour. [...] Before the 1870s it stood in the south transept." The Parish web site [www.stnicholas-arundel.co.uk/history.html] [accessed 3 April 2012] notes: "As you enter St Nicholas, the Font is just in front of you. This octagonal Font, made of Sussex marble is probably the oldest relic in the church, being of late decorated style, and is commensurate with the building." The basin has a pair of trefoiled windows on each panel; this same motif is repeated on the pedestal base (but only one window per panel here); graded chamfer; round basin well; splayed lower base; octagonal plinth with "priest's stone".