Merton nr. Great Torrington

Noted in Pevsner (1952): "Font. Square, Norman, the underedge with three scallops on each side; Jacobean cover." Described and illustrated in Clarke (19120): "In this font a new feature appears; on the western side of the plinth the corners have masks lying face upwards; we shall meet with similar though larger ones presently at Stoke St. Nectan [cf. Index entry]. On the eastern sides instead of masks there are two lozenge-shaped bosses; the one on the south is moulded. The bowl has three cones on each side, with darts between; the necking and base are round mouldings. The shaft and plinth are each composed of two courses of stone; the plinth is chamfered. As in most similar examples, there is an incised line above the cones, which are recessed about 1/2 inch behind it. The unlined basin is square-shaped, the rim has been hollowed to receive the cover (a good carved pyramidal Jacobean one); the outer edge of the bowl is chamfered. The material of the font is freestone."