Coombe Bissett / Combe Bissett / Combe Basset

Bloxham (1859) mentions the spire-like font cover, but not the font itself. The font is listed in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a being of the Early English period. [NB: Bloxham gives the name as Combe Bissett, whereas C&H give the site name as "Combe Basset", probably by influence of Compton Bassett?]. Described and illustrated in Buck (1951): "a continuation of the Norman tabular type, with a circular bowl. The sides of the bowl have several mouldings, and the capitals of the outer supporting shafts are provided for on the lower portion of the tapering sides, instead of on the underside as in the case of the square bowls; the base, also, is carved with separate mouldings for the bases of the shafts." Noted in Pevsner & Cherry (1975): "Font. C13. Moulded basin. On five supports." Noted in the Parish of Coombe Bissett with Homington web site [http://www.coombebissett.com/anglican/cb_church.html] [accessed 4 September 2008]: "The Font dates c.1200-1300. It is moulded like an Early English Capital (head or cornice of pillar or column), with double bell, and supported on a central shaft, surrounded by the four smaller ones. It is carved from a single block of stone. In 1326 an order was issued from Canterbury that all fonts should have a locked cover and traces of where this has been are still visible. It was moved to its present place from the western end of the nave in 1845." Noted in the Parish web site [http://www.coombebissett.com/anglican/cb_church.html] [accessed 19 December 2008]: "The Font dates c.1200-1300. It is moulded like an Early English Capital (head or cornice of pillar or column), with double bell, and supported on a central shaft, surrounded by the four smaller ones. It is carved from a single block of stone. In 1326 an order was issued from Canterbury that all fonts should have a locked cover and traces of where this has been are still visible. It was moved to its present place from the western end of the nave in 1845. Over the south aisle and arcade are two Norman Arches dating from 1150-1180. The one by the Font has a perfect Norman Column with richly decorated capitals." There is a repair done to the upper rim with new stone insert, consistent with the position of the old cover staples. The present cover is an octagonal pyramid with arrises at the angles and finial; Victorian?