Winterbourne Earls / Winterbourne Dauntsey

The baptismal font now [April 2004] found at the Church of St. Michael and All Angels consists of a plain octagonal basin with slightly rounded underbowl and raised on an octagonal pedestal base with a moulding around its middle; the lower base is octagonal at the top but reduces to four sides at the bottom; the plinth is octagonal and also plain. According to the source indicated below, this church was built ca. 1867 including some of the surviving fragments from the demolished churches of St. Edward and St. Michael. Information from the Bourne Valley Historical Society and its archivist, Dr. Keith Norris, indicates that this baptismal font "appears to to be made up from both the old fonts. The top main font bowl is octagonal whereas St Michael's was hexagonal. The pedestal seems to be a mixture of both originals with one section inverted." This source informs that Dr. Norris "has requested further research by the Diocesan Architect". [NB: images of the fonts under scrutiny are shown in a web site where the description of the obejcts and some historical background can be found: www.early-oak.fsnet.co.uk/steds/tedsbits.htm]