Holwell nr. Hitchin / Holewelle

Noted in Lysons (1806-1833) as one of a group of circular fonts: “in the shape of a bason standing on five pillars, some of which have capitals of foliage” [Leighton Buzzard and Eaton Bray are two others in this group]. The Victoria County History (Bedford, vol. 2, 1908) notes: "The church of St. Peter was entirely rebuilt in 1877 [...] A few pieces of old work have been re-used, the most interesting being the string across the inner face of the east wall of the chancel. This is of fourteenthcentury date [...] The registers begin in 1560"; the VCH entry does not mention a font in this church. The modern font, probably of the late-19th century re-building of this church, consists of a cylindrical basin raised on four marble columns, and is located in an alcove or enclosure behind a railing. [NB: we have no information on the whereabouts of the medieval font seen by Lysons before the 1877 renovation of the church].