Bishops Tawton / Bishop's Tawton / Tawton

Described in Lysons (1806-1822) as of a group of "square Saxon fonts on circular pillars, or pedestals." There is a 29 June 1821 pencil-on-paper drawing of this font by John Buckler (1770-1851) in the British Library Collections [Shelfmark: Additional MS 36361; Item number: f.125]; the drawing includes measurements in feet/inches; the font consists of a late-date octagonal basin of plain sides and chamfered underbowl, raised on a cylindrical stem decorated with two round mouldings, and an earlier square lower base decorated with scallops on its upper part. [NB: the present basin and stem are probably 18th-century [cf. infra], but the square lower base could very well be the basin of the "Saxon" font reported by Lysons [cf. supra], up-turned and recycled afterwards as a base for the later composite arrangement]. Oliver (1840-1842) writes: "The venerable Font, once threatened with ejectment, was fortunately protected, through the instrumentality of Mr. Rawle, the present Clerk, whose liberal zeal for the Church, whilst it does him honour, should operate as a stimulus to others in more elevated stations." Hussell (1910) notes: "The font is of stone, octagonal, plainly moulded, and probably of 18th century date, repaired and fitted with a modern oak crocketed cover." The British Listed Buildings database entry [www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-98500-church-of-st-john-the-baptist-bishops-taw] [accessed 11 December 2011] reports: "C18 Font has lead-lined octagonal bowl on squat round stem and lobed plinth, wrought iron font crane to cone cover swept up to finial top with crocketed ribs. Blind traceried panels to the 8 facets with short corner finials."