Shirwell / Sherwell / Sherwill

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". Clarke (1922), who dates this and other such Devon fonts to the 13th century, writes: "A good example of a square stone panelled font is at Sherwill, tough it looks as if it had been exposed to the weather, and is worn down on all sides but the south. Three of the four sides of the bowl are filled with round-topped arcading; four arches on each face. The basin [i.e., the inner basin] is circular, with a lead lining which covers 3 inches of the horizontal face all around. There is a central shaft and four smaller ones at the corners which have regular bases, but they must always have been very shallow, and have now almost disappeared, confirming the impression that the font was outdoors at some time. The corner shafts are very roughly worked; that on the south-east has lost about 6 inches, that on the north 2 1/2 inches, so that only a narrow point holds up the bowl. The plinth is built of small stones. The whole font is of rough grey stone, and bears traces of paint, grey, red, and yellow. A triangle has been roughly cut out from the plinth, so that the font may be placed close to a pillar." [NB: Clarke (ibid.) uses both "Shirwell" and "Sherwill" in her article to refer to this town]. Described in Pevsner (1952): "Font. Norman, square, of the table-top type, with four flat blank arches to each side of the top."