Upton Scudamore / Scudtunore

The font here is documented in an 1806 watercolour by John Buckler (1770-1851). Illustrated in Hoare (1822-1844). Noted in the Handbook for travellers… (1869) as a font of the Norman period. Cox & Harvey (1907) note: "There are also illustrations in Hoare's volumes of the rude Norman font of Upton Scudamore." Classed in Buck (1950) as one of a group of "Middle Norman circular Fonts, c. 1100-1150" in Wiltshire: "The base of the font is now below floor level and has worn ornaments on the four cornersl the present octagonal stem between the bowl and base appears to be later work." The Victoria County History (Wiltshire, vol. 8, 1965) notes: "Norman work still remaining shows that there was a church at Upton Scudamore in the 12th century. [...] The dedication is mentioned in 1331. [...] The oldest remaining work is the Norman surround of the north doorway, [...] which is of the late 12th century [...] The circular Norman font is decorated with bands of saw-tooth and lozenge ornament." Noted in Pevsner & Cherry (1975): "Font. Circular, Norman, with zigzag and lozenge bands." The baptismal font consists of two volunes: the tub-shaped rounded basin and the polygonal pedestal on which it stands; the basin, dated to the Norman period, has a band of saw-tooth around the upper side, and a geometrical braid forming diamonds all around its middle; the lower basin side is decorated with a rope moulding; the inner well of the basin is lead-lined. The base is of later date and is plain but for four spurs at 90-degree angles at the very bottom. The wooden cover with metal ornamentation is modern. [NB: The font of the Parish church of St Mary, in Kington, Hereford & Worcester, has a similar ornamentation and. cincidentally, has been later mounted in a similar arrangement]