East Preston / Prestetune / Preston Millers

Harrison (1920) reports an altered font of the 13th century but a north door dating back to the Norman period. Listed in Tyrrell-Green (1928) as one in a very large group of baptismal fonts that are plain octagonal with straightsided basins. Martin B. Snow's (2010) 'The Church of St. Mary the Virgin and the parishes of East Preston and Kingston [http://eastpreston.inthepast.org.uk/ep_church.htm] [accessed 4 February 2013] notes: "The font has a circular roll moulded base on a square plinth, of the 13th century. Of later date is the octagonal stem and bowl, with a moulded rim. On the rim are the roughly incised initials and date MM 1648 F, as described in 1912, although the 4 is now faint. It may be assumed as graffiti, although it is possible that the old font had been damaged during the civil war siege of Arundel and replaced in 1648 - an unlikley date for any church work to be done. The oak cover dates from 1880, and has iron straps made by the village blacksmith Walter Booker." [NB: there are traces on the basin that suggest re-cutting of its surfaces].