Littlehempston / Little Hempston

Described and illustrated by A.W. Searley in Clarke (1918): "A red sandstone of unique appearance; up to a certain point it is similar to those at Southpool and Rattery [cf. Index entries], with a low shaft on a cushion base; the lower part of the bowl also is similar, as it consists of vertical panels slightly hollowed between narrow ridges; a sunken effect is got by leaving the ribs in relief. These, however, extend for six inches only, and the upper part of the bowl is cut into seven faces, 13 x 9 inches in dimensions. A roll moulding forms a necking, and there is another rather faltter moulding at the foot of the shaft. The base is cushion-shaped; in the triangular spaces between the semicircles is a vertical groove producing something the effect of a spur. The bowl is relatively shallow, and it may be the rim has been cut down as at Rattery, Ugborough, and elsewhere, but this cannot be positively asserted, because the lead lining is brought over the edge. This circumstance, however, lends colour to the hypothesis. Although this piece of decoration [!] is so simple it has a bold imposing effect, and is quite as effective as far more elaborate work. The font is placed on a modern octagonal plinth." Noted in Pevsner (1952): "Font. Norman, red sandstone, seven-sided with a rib design." Hoskins (1954), however, notes: "The chancel and the font are 14th century".