Northlew / North Lew

Listed in Lysons (1806-1822) as one of a group of square baptismal fonts in the county that are "for the most part supported by four pillars and a large pedestal in the centre". The Parish web site [www.northmoor-churches.org/child1.html], however, reproduces text of an article by Mrs. Brenda Zielinska (first published in 'Northmoor News') which claims that among the vandalism at the hands of Cromwell's men was the "throwing out of the font, which was not rediscovered until 1870". Clarke (1922) describes it as one nine Devon 'table fonts' (Bondleigh, Hennock, Holbeton, Honiton Clyst, Mariansleigh, North Lew, Petrockstowe, Roseash and Washfield) that belong to the thirteenth century, "though the ornament on the bowls is of that date their heavy construction suggests a Norman origin, so that they have often been wrongly attributed to the twelfth century". [cf. Index entry for Clyst Honiton for a full description, measurements and illustration of this type of font]