Wannebecq

Described in the Lessines web site [www.lessines.be] as a baptismal font of the 11th century made of blue stone ["pierre bleue"], a reference to the blue-black limestone often called 'Tournai marble' [cf. Index entries for 'Tournai fonts' for other fonts of the same period made of this stone in this area, including the one at nearby Deux-Acren]. Listed and illustrated in BALaT KIK-IRPA [https://balat.kikirpa.be/object/10045507] [accessed 4 August 2025]: "fonts baptismaux [...] pierre] Date: 1101 - 1200 [...] hauteur: 115.5 cm". [NB: the KIK-IRPA entry gives "Institution place: Papignies -- Institution: Eglise Saint-Léger[Wannebecq]"]
A communication to BSI from Pol Herman (e-mail of 3 September 2025) informs: "The first church was Romanesque and dated from the 11th century. At that time it was a castral chapel. The altar was given to the abbey of Liessies by the Bishop of Cambrai at the beginning of the XIIème siècle. The castle, that no longer exists, hosted the King of France Louis XV and the Dauphin for a few days in 1745 after the Battle of Fontenoy. In 1922, the church was so dilapidated, that there were thoughts of demolishing the building. However, the decision was taken to restore it by the architect A. Dufour, who was keen to conserve the original characteristics of the place, still surrounded by its walled cemetery. Only the base of the 12th century Tournai-type font was original. It supported a cylindrical basin. In 1922, the baptismal font was too thoroughly restored : the damaged base was rechiselled and looks new. The basin, column and colonnettes were added to mimic the original appearance."