Gilcrux

In a description of details on the cross shaft at Dacre (Cumbria), Calverley (1899) identifies one of the groupings as "two men join hands in peaceful compact over a square font", and add in a footnote that "such a square stone font may be seen in Gilcrux church". The shaft of the cross is dated to the 10th century in Calverley [NB: Gilcrux, also in Cumbria, is 40-45 km west of Dacre]. The website of the Diocese of Carlisle mentions a "plain Norman font" in this church. Cox (1913) quotes from Bishop Nicolson's visitation report of 1703: "the font is broken and lumpish". Cox adds, after Calverley, "The rude square font is probably the oldest detail of the church, with the exception of parts of a circular cross-head in red sandstone, of the Viking stamp." Pevsner (1967) notes: "Font. Like a big undecorated Norman capital."