Fyfield nr. Abingdon / Fif Hide / Fifhede / Fifhide / Fifide / Fighfield / Fivehide / Fyfylde

There are two entries for Fyfield [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://opendomesday.org/place/SU4298/fyfield/] [accessed 28 May 2015], one of which mentions a church in it. Cox & Harvey (1907) list a baptismal font of the Decorated period here. [NB: C&H list in Berkshire; after 1974 it became part of Oxfordshire]. The Victoria County History (Berkshire, vol. 4, 1924) notes: "The church of St. Nicholas [...] The west end of the nave is of about 1210, and a doorway of the same date has been reset in the north aisle. The rest of the church was almost entirely rebuilt in the 14th century, possibly by Sir John Golafre, lord of the manor, who died in 1363 [...] The church was burnt out in 1893 and all the woodwork destroyed; it has since been restored [...] The font is only partly old, and has a fleur de lis and cusping on each face of the stem; the ancient bowl lies in the churchyard." The font consists of a plain octagonal basin, rather narrow and with a tall chamfer, raised on an octagonal stem decorated with a fleur-de-lis on each side, and a moulded lower base, octagonal as well; plain octagonal plinth with kneeling stone. Flat wooden cover with metal decoration and ring handle; appears modern. The font has an odd look: the basin appears to have been drastically re-cut and part of the base is probably either re-cut or a Victorian (?) addition or replacement. [NB: we have had no access to the churchyard bowl, if it indeed is still there].