Graffham / Grafham

A church in Grafham is reported in the Domesday Survey [http://domesdaymap.co.uk/place/SU9217/graffham/] [accessed 1 August 2012]. Listed in Cox & Harvey (1907) and Harrison (1920) as a baptismal font of the Norman period. The Victoria County History (Sussex, vol. 4, 1953) notes: "he church is mentioned in Domesday Book; [...] in the late 12th century it consisted of chancel, nave, and north and south aisles shorter than the present; a tower was added in the 13th; the whole, with the exception of the nave arcades and the tower, was rebuilt [...] and was reconsecrated in 1875 [...] The font is cylindrical, probably of the 12th century". Described in Whiteman (1994): "Of early Norman date is the plain tub-shaped font, similar in pattern and material to several others in W Sussex (e.g. Didling, Selham, Woolbeding)". Described and illustrated in the CRSBI (2008): "A plain, lead-lined tub (cylindrical) on two plinths, the upper one cylindrical and the lower one rectangular. There are traces of red and white paint and diagonal tooling on the surface of the bowl, and some repairs on the W side of the rim." The Church of England web site [www.achurchnearyou.com/graffham-st-giles/history-of-graffham.html] [accessed 1 August 2012] notes: "The font [...] is cylindrical, probably of the 12[th] century, and of plain and ordinary character. Made from hard freshwater Chara limestone, of Eocene age, this font was made of a stone no longer dug or quarried in Sussex. It is presumed that this stone was brought originally by sea from the Isle of Wight or Purbeck, and is all but unique to West Sussex churches of pre-Conquest date and foundation. They are, for instance, at Cocking, Didling, Lodsworth, Graffham, Selham and Up Waltham. It would appear that the early Norrnans in these parts ordered a cargo of fonts, and distributed them to various churches in the surrounding area." There are some repairs to the upper rim area of the basin, damage probably related to the cover hardware.