Areley Kings No. 1 / Arely Regis / Arleia / Arley Kings / Arleye Kyng / Armleg / Earnley-by-Severn / Ernel / Erneleie / Ernleie / Larlegh de Rege / Hernelia / Kyngys Arelei / Lower Areley / Neather Arley

No entry found for Areley Kings in the Domesday survey. Walford's Antiquarian of 1885 (vol. 8, no. 43: 194) notes; "The church of Areley Kings, in the suburbs of Stourport, on the banks of the Severn, is now undergoing restoration and material alteration [...] Fragments of a Norman font were also found, but the most interesting discovery was the traces of letters on the front step-stones which, after removal of paint and whitewash, were found to be "TEMPORE LA[Y]AMANNI : SANTI." It is on record that the Poet Layaman was priest of Earnley by Severn, and it is assumed that Earnley was the old name of Areley Kings." Miller (1890) notes the fragments and inscription, and remarks on the survival of the old holy water stoup from the old church. [cf. Index entry for Areley Kings No. 2]. Andrews (1912) notes: "When the floor of the church was taken up several dressed stones were found which had formed part of a circular Norman font; they were lettered in 13th-century style "Tempore La Amanni Santi". [NB: the early Middle English poet Layamon, aka Lawamon, Lazamon, lived in Arley Kings ca. 1200]. Andrews (ibid.) adds: "The font at Areley Kings has been largely restored, and being in the neighbourhood of the reputed birthplace of Layaman, bears the following inscription -- TEMPORE LAVAMANNI SANTI." The Victoria County History (Worcester, vol. 4, 1924) notes: "The earliest mention of the church at Areley is probably Lazamon's reference, circa 1200, to the noble church upon the Severn's bank at 'Ernleie.' [...] The church was entirely rebuilt in 1885–6, with the exception of the chancel and tower. A 12thcentury window recently opened up in the south wall of the chancel places its early origin beyond doubt. The tower is of the late 14th century. The whole building, modern and ancient, is of sandstone ashlar [...] Fragments of the stem and base of the font are of the 12th century, and were discovered on the demolition of the nave; along the base is carved in Roman characters: '+ tempore: la ... amanni [...] : santi' (sic). From the character of the lettering, the inscription appears to be of the early 17th century." [fn.24: "The third letter is indecipherable. The inscription is said to refer to Lazamon, the writer of the paraphrase of the Brut, who according to his own account dwelt at Ernleie at a noble church upon the Severn near Radestone (Madden, Lazamon's Brut [Soc. Antiq.], i, 1, from Cott. MS. Calig. A ix)"]. In Pevsner (1968): "Font. The base Norman with an inscription 'Tempore. La. . amanni santi'. This refers to Layamon, the author of Brut. He died in 1200 and was priest at Earnley-by-Severn which may well mean Areley." Ditto in Brooks & Pevsner (2007). Described in the CRSBI (2014): "Only fragments of the stem and base are of the 12thc. These were discovered during the demolition of the nave" [the CRSBi then follows much along the VCH description above].