Whorlton nr. Barnard Castle No. 2

This mid-19th century baptismal font is mentioned in Whellan's Directory of 1894; it was added when the church was rebuilt in 1853. The stone font consists of an octagonal basin the panels of which are shaped like shields, deepply carved with crenellated contours and a large symbol in each (cross, angel, dove, etc.); the spandrels created by the lower angles of the shields form trefoils; graded chamfered underbowl; octagonal stem with trefoil windows; plain octagonal lower base; raised on a narrow plinth, also modern. The inside of the basin has a lead lining.The Parish of Barnard Castle with Whorlton web site [www.stmarysbarnardcastle.org.uk] illustrates an old baptismal font located outside the church, near the entrance; the caption reads "Saxon font", but the object thus captioned is an octagonal mounted font consisting of a plain octagonal basin with a tall chamfered underbowl, raised on a square stem and base. This object is not a Saxon font, but may date from the 14th or 15th century. The same source illustrates a second font, the one in use inside the church, a Victorian octagonal mounted font [not listed in this Index on account of its late date]. [NB: both churches at Barnard Castle and Whorlton are dedicated to st Mary] [cf. Index entry for Whorlton No. 1 St Mary's for an earlier font in the outside of the church]