Baslow

Cox (1875-1877) notes: "There is an old octagon font near the south entrance, on an octagon base that has Decorated mouldings, but we think that the base stone is a modern one. This font was recovered for its sacred uses, at the time when the church was restored, from the vicarage sellar. We were told by the present incumbent that it had been therein used for the salting of bacon; but further inquiry inclines us to the more charitable surmise that it had been placed there with the intention of preserving it." Bunting (2001) refers to part of Cox' story. The present [April 2009] font at Baslow appears too fresh for a medieval font; the basin is octagonal with vertical sides and the underbowl is slightly convex, both totally plain; the octagonal stem is moulded at both ends; the splaying lower base is octagonal and moulded; on a short quadrangular plinth, also modern, as is the wooden font cover with a flat octagonal base and four straight ribs around a centre pivot, and cross finial [NB: it is quite possible, however, that the octagonal basin is a re-cut of the original one, whereas the stem is definitely a modern replacement]