Hempsted nr. Gloucester / Hempstead / Hemsted

Noted in Gough (1792), with a drawing by J. Basire: "That at Harbledon is a kind of cup on (I think) four pillars, like that at Hempsted in Gloucestershire." Tymms (1834) describes this font as "curious". It is noted in the National Gazetteer of 1868 simply as "an old font" [source: 2003 transcription by Colin Hinson in www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/GLS/hempsted/Gaz1868.html]. Described in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a baptismal font of the Early English period, "curiously carved". [NB: C&H refer to the site as "Hempstead"]. Noted and illustrated in Wilkes & Taylor [www.allthecotswolds.com]: "The font is Transitional with a pedestal and six shafts." Noted in Verey & Brooks (1999-2002): "Font. Early C13". The font consists of a round basin with plain tapering sides, raised on a cluster of a central shaft and six outer colonnettes, a round lower base and a polygonal plinth with kneeling stone; the only ornamentation on the font are the simple moouldings at the top and bottom of the colonnettes of the base; wooden cover, round, with metal decoration; probably modern. Some damage evident to the upper rim of the basin, with marks where the staples of the old font would have been.