Crantock / Cranstock

Noted in Lysons (1806-1833) as one of a group of Cornish fonts that includes Bodmin, “St. Austell, St. Columb-Minor, Crantock, Cuby, St. Dennis, St. Gorran, Luxulion, Newlyn, Roche, Southill, Tintagell, Veryan, and St. Wen” [NB: Lysons' does not mention a date inscription]. Lewis' Dictionary of 1848 mentions simply that "the font bears the date of 1474". Described and illustrated in Blight (1858): "This font, which is considered to be late Norman, is of a form which occurs more frequently in the West of England, than other parts, but differs from others in bearing a date, which is cut in bold relief on the side, and has been thus read:--'Anno Domini Millesimo CCCClxxiij or ij (1473-2)' There were small columns at the angles". [NB: blight's illustration shows the basin raised only on a central round moulded shaft]. Listed in Cox & Harvey (1907) as a baptismal font of the 15th century, the Perpendicular period, with an inscription that dates it to 1474 [NB: C&H use "Cranstock" in the first reference and "Crantock" in the second -- Crockford's uses "Cranstock", the AA Atlas of Britain gives "Crantock"]. Cox (1912) writes: "Late Norm[an] font has date 1474 in relief on bowl ; probably the time of its repair after fall of tower." The parish web page [www.westwind.co.uk/westwind/cornwall/carantoc.html] notes: "The font, of native elvan, is inscribed with the date 1474, but is probably of Norman origin, the date commemorating rebuilding after the fall of the tower." Noted in Pevsner (1970): "Font. Norman, of the type of Mawgan-in-Pydar, St Columb Minor, Sr Wenn, re-tooled in 1474 (?) and with that date inscribed in large script."