Ashprington

Described in Worthy (1887): "The font, of red sandstone, is circular and of Norman date, and is ornamented with the cable moulding and rudely executed foliage. I believe It to be in its original position; but the door which anciently existed near it has been closed up." Listed in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a baptismal font of the Norman period. Described and illustrated in Clarke (1916) as one of twelve Devon fonts of about the same period [Norman/Late Norman] decorated with a prominent band of honeysuckle or palmetto motif all around the basin [the twelve are: Ashprington, Blackauton, Buckfastleigh, Denbury, Cornworthy, Dartmouth St. Petrock's, Paignton St Andrew's, Plymstock, South Brent, Thurlestone, Ugborough and Wolbororugh, all in Devon]. "This font", adds Clarke (ibid.), "resembles Blackauton in shape and style, but the honeysuckle band is rather narrower, and below it, instead of a saw-tooth there is a plain surface, 10 inches deep. This is the first sign of the tendency to reduce, and eventually discard ornament, which culminated in the thirteenth century in very plain fonts. Ashprington font is entirely of red sandstone, and is in excellent condition, not cracked at all. There is a round moulding between bowl and shaft, and a circular base 1 1/4 inches deep which looks original; there is a round slab beneath it which is an addition, and it is further raised on two modern steps. The bowl has a lead lining." Noted in Pevsner (1952): Font. Circular, Norman, with palmette frieze and a strip of cable moulding above."