Mattishall Burgh / Bergh Parva / Matteshall Bergh / Mattishall Bergh

Blomefield (1805-1810) writes: "In old writing called Bergh Parva, to distinguish it from South Bergh, in this hundred; also Mattishall-Bergh, as lying near to it, and having the same lords. It is not mentioned in the Book of Domesday, being accounted for in the lordships of Ralph de Beaufo in Mateshale, and that of Hermer de Ferrarijs in the said town, as extending into this village [...] The Church has only an isle with a chancel covered with tile, a square tower, and 3 bells, and a chapel on the north side, and is dedicated to St. Peter; it is a rectory [...] Rectors. In 1300, Richard de Geyst instituted, nominated by William Mareshall, presented by the prior and convent of St. Mary of Southwark." The earliest chronological reference to this church in Blomefield (ibid.) is 1288, related to "a fine was levied of this advowson". Tyrrell-Green (1928) writes: "The octagonal form persisted in fonts of the same class in the thirteenth century, with the change that in the Early English style pointed arches take the place of rounded ones in the shallow incised arcading". This font is one of them. Listed in Leach (1975) as a font made of Purbeck marble; "bowl only; supports of usual type but a different stone." Described in Pevsner & Wilson (1999): "Octagonal, of Purbeck marble, i.e. with the usual two shallow blank arches on each side. The shafts beneath are renewed." Noted and illustrated in Knott (2006). Not just the colonnettes are modern; the whole base and the plinth are as well.