West Hoathly / Hadlega / Hodlega / Hodlegh / Hogligh / Hothelegh

Hussey (1852) writes: "The font is mutilated, of Weald marble, probably E[arly] E[nglish]." In Walker (1908) and in Drummond-Roberts (1935). Harrison (1920) reports a square font of the Transitional period, as well as an undated holy-water stoup in this church after the 1870 restoration. The Victoria County History (Sussex, vol. 7, 1940) notes: "church of St. Margaret [...] The nave dates from c. 1090 [...] The font is of the end of the 12th century and has a repaired square bowl of Petworth marble, on a cylindrical stem which is surrounded by four modern shafts of Purbeck marble." Described in Whiteman (1994) as a square marble font of the 13th century. Described and illustrated in the CRSBI (2008) as a font made of "Sussex or Petworth marble", but pointing out that "the stone of the highly polished angle shafts contains much smaller fossils than the rest of the ensemble and appear to be of Purbeck rather than Sussex marble", and with date "the second half of the 12thc." The CRSBI entry for Heyshott also notes this font as one in a group of "fonts with moulded capitals which form part of a square bowl" [ the group includes Cuckfield, Heyshott, Iford, Ripe, Slindon, West Hoathly and Woodmancote"]. The Parish web site [www.westhoathly.org.uk/History/History.html] [accessed 14 November 2012] informs: "the Font [...] stands near the entrance [...]. Believed to be made in 1180, unusually enough, of paludina limestone, sometimes called Sussex marble or winklestone. The consolidated snail shells, which are visible, became petrified when the Weald was under marsh and water. When polished the stone is decorative: the memorial in the chancel is a good example. The columns supporting the font were restored using Purbeck marble."