Weare Giffard / Wear Gifford / Weir Gifford

Results: 2 records

BBL01: design element - patterns - scalloped

Scene Description: three scallops per side

LB01: design element - motifs - roll moulding

Scene Description: at the upper end of the stem of the base

INFORMATION

FontID: 06597WEI
Church/Chapel: Parish Church of the Holy Trinity
Church Patron Saints: The Holy Trinity
Country Name: England
Location: Devon, South West
Directions to Site: Located off the A386, 5 km NW of GreatTorrington, 6 km S of Bideford
Font Location in Church: Inside the church
Century and Period: 12th - 13th century, Late Norman / Transitional?
Cognate Fonts: Similar in general shape to the fonts at Halberton and Molland, also in Devon
Described in Cox & Harvey (1907: 195, 196) as a baptismal font of the Nortman period; it is "square, and resembles the cushioned capital of pier". Clarke (1920) states that this font is "similar to Molland and Halberton [cf. Index entries], with three cones separated by darts on each side, and incised line above. It has been very drastically restored, and has a good deal of new stone, including patches on all four sides, varying from 8 to 13 inches wide by 4 3/4 deep. The circular base seems to be original, it is a sloping chamfer 4 inches wide. The necking is a round moulding. The angles of the bowl are chamfered off vertically, probably by way of restoration. The material is Bath stone." [NB: Cox & Harvey use spelling "Weir Gifford" -- Clarke uses spelling "Wear Gifford" -- the name of the town is currently [2004] spelled "Weare Giffard"]. Noted in Pevsner (1952): "Font. Square, Norman, with scalloped underside."

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone, Bath stone
Font Shape: square (scalloped capital) (mounted)
Basin Exterior Shape: square
Rim Thickness: 8.5 cm [calculated]
Diameter (inside rim): 48 cm*
Diameter (includes rim): 65 cm*
Basin Depth: 25 cm*
Basin Total Height: 40 cm*
Height of Base: 45 cm [calculated]
Height of Central Column: 20 cm*
Font Height (less Plinth): 85 cm*
Font Height (with Plinth): 107.5 cm* [85 + 22.5]
Notes on Measurements: * [measurements given in inches in Clarke (1920: 335)]

REFERENCES

Clarke, Kate M., "The baptismal fonts of Devon -- Part VII", 52, Report and Transactions of the Devonshire Association for the Advancement of Science, Literature and Art, 1920, pp. 327-335; r["References"]
Clarke, Kate M., "The baptismal fonts of Devon -- Part VIII", 53, Report and Transactions of the Devonshire Association for the Advancement of Science, Literature and Art, 1921, pp. 226-231; r["References"]
Cox, John Charles, English Church Furniture, New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., 1907
Pevsner, Nikolaus, North Devon, Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1952