Hemingford Abbots / Emingeforde / Emmingeforde Abbatis / Hemmingeford Magna

Listed in Tyrrell-Green (1928) as a baptismal font of the Norman period consisting of an octagonal basin mounted on a five-pillar support base; the basin sides are ornamented with a blind arcade. The Victoria County History (Huntingdone, vol. 2, 1932) notes: "The church is mentioned in the Domesday Survey (1086), but nothing of this date remains. It is probable that in the 12th century the church had a central tower, of which small parts of the walls may still remain. A complete reconstruction took place at the end of the 13th century, [...] The early 13th-century font is octagonal with an arcade of one arch on each face; it stands on a circular central and four octagonal angle shafts." The font is confirmed still in St Margaret's ca. 2002 in the Hemingford Abbots local web site [www.hemingfordabbots.org.uk], and in the DIGIATLAS site: "Near the south aisle is the font : octagonal with round arches and sitting on several legs. The church guide claims this as Norman but I think it is actually mid C12 on later legs." [cf. Index entry for Wigston Parva for a font originally from "Hemingford" (?)]. The web site of the Blaby District Council, Planning Services Division (2003) [www.blaby.gov.uk/com/content/environment/land-%26-premises/buildings/isted-buildings/wigston-parva/church-of-st-mary-church-lane.en] [accessed 21 December 2006], in its entry for Wgston Parva, notes that "fittings include an octagonal font removed from Hemingford, Hunts, c. 1900" [among other things].