Huxham / Huxam

Listed in Lysons (1806-1822) as a baptismal font "among many of circular form and an early age, enriched with various carved mouldings, wreaths, scrolls, or foliage". Listed in Cox & Harvey (1907: 196) as having a baptismal font of the Norman period. Noted in Stabb (1908): "The font is Norman, and is apparently of red sandstone; there is a band of carving round the top, a fluted bowl, and cable moulding; it stands on a modern base." Described in Clarke (1913) as "A fine font; the ornament indicates late eleventh or early twelfth century; unfortunately a great deal of repair has been necessary. Round the rim is a band 4 1/2 inches deep; of this 16 1/2 inches in one place and about 4 in another are all that remain of the original work. This consists of pateræ or small medallions, enclosing the Norman rose; alternating with the medallions are groups of five nail-heads, the central one larger than the others, arranged much in the same way as the symbolical representation of the Five Wounds, though I do not suppose the intention was to represent that subject, as the symbols of the Passion are very rarely found before the fifteenth century. On the modern part of the band, about 60 inches altogether, two concentric discs take the place of the rose, and instead of the nail-heads there are round or filbert-shaped pellets. Below the band the body of the bowl is covered with diagonal rolls, having an average width of 2 inches, with sharply cut grooves between; more than two-thirds is original work. The encircling band is a cable; this and the portion below it are entirely original. The font stands on a modern plinth." In Pevsner (1952): "Norman, with diagonally fluted circular bowl, a cable moulding below, a frieze of little circles, and symmetrically arranged spots on top." Noted in Hoskins (1954) as "a fine example" of the Norman period.