Bickleigh nr. Tiverton

Noted in Worthy (1887): "The bell-shaped octagonal font has an early moulding and is enriched with carving; it is placed opposite the south door." Mentioned in Stabb (1908) as "an old font of unusual shape." Described and illustrated in Clarke (1915): "This also appears to have been a Norman tub-font, though of later date than that at High Bray. Unhappily, of the Norman work nothing remains but a border of star and pellet moulding, 5 inches deep, similar to the top band on St. Mary Steps and Farringdon fonts, though bolder and larger. Below this the tub has been worked into an octagon shape, the eight sides tapering towards the base, finished by a series of indeterminate mouldings, which lead to the conclusion that this unfortunate achievement took place around 1840. The star and pellet ornament has been entirely worked over with the chisel, and the horizontal face of the rim, 4 1/2 inches wide, has also been worked over, all but obliterating the axe marks, but of these there is just enough to show by their fineness that the original construction was late twelfth century. The ornament also is clearly of that period. Some of the rim has been broken away; it has been repaired in three places by inserted patches of stone, and four other gaps are filled with cement. On the eastern side are two holes where a staple was formerly inserted. It is lead lined." Hoskins (1954) nwrites: "Bickleigh church (St. Mary) is a badly restored 14th century building, with a 12th century S. doorway and font."