Charlton nr. Shaftesbury

An "Anglo-Saxon font" is listed in this church by The Historic Churches Preservation Trust [source: 'Recent grants', Grants Cttee meeting of 13 September 2005]. We have been unable to corroborate this claim. There is, however, what appear to be the remains of a medieval baptismal font in the churchyard at St. John the Baptist, Charlton, near Ludwell, photographed in August 2004 by Duncan & Mandy Ball [http://www.oodwooc.co.uk/ph_CharltonL.htm] [accessed 31 August 2008]. These remains consist of what appears to be the underbowl of an early octagonal (?) basin and the round pedestal base; the underbowl is of the type where the scallops of the side project inwards thus creating a ribbed pattern all around [i.e., trumpet scallops]; the pedestal base is plain [NB: due to the growth of liquens, etc. on the surface of the object, we are not able to discern whether or not there is a drain hole in its centre; if there were not, its identification as a font could then be questioned]. This object, probably what is left of a font, appears to be later than the Saxon date claimed by the HCPT [cf. above].