East Bradenham / Bradeham / Bradenham

Blomefield (1805-1810) writes: "In the Conqueror's survey it is called Bradeham [...] Here was also a church with 15 acres of land, valued 15d. [...] The Church of East-Bradenham is dedicated to St. Mary, and consists of a nave, a north and south isle, with a chancel built of flint, stones, &c. and covered with lead; the vault of the nave is supported by octangular pillars, forming 8 arches, 4 on a side, and is in length about 57 feet, and in breadth, with the two isles, about 39 feet; at the west end of the nave is a convenient and decent gallery erected for the singers, joining to the tower, which is four-square, and of the same materials with the church: in this tower hang three bells. [...] To the north isle is annexed a good porch, with a room over it, probably for a recluse." Blomefield (ibid.) names "William de Birston" as first recorded rector, in 1302. The present font is listed in Tyrrell-Green (1928) as one in a very large group of baptismal fonts that are plain octagonal with straightsided basins. Noted in Pevsner & Wilson (1999): "Font. Plain and octagonal.- Font cover. C17, with scrolls, central shaft and an obelisk with a ball finial." Illustrated in Knott (2007) [NB: the underbowl may actually be a separate stone, as it appears to match the [later?] base, octagonal and moulded].