Cann / Shaston St. Rumbold

No entry for Cann found in the Domesday survey. The font at Cann is noted in the 3rd ed. of Hutchins (1973 c1861-1874): "The font is peculiar, and is perhaps partly Norman, although on the circular bowl is cut 'JOHN MONDE CHVRCHWARDEN 1664'". Noted in Long (1923) and in Mee (1939) as a baptismal font of the Norman period. In Newman & Pevsner (1972): "Font. Norman, cauldron-shaped. Along the underside lightly decorated trumpet-scallops." The Dorset OPC web site [www.dorset-opc.com] dates the font to the 12th century. The Historic England site [https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1254449] [accessed 17 January 2018] reports: "The church contained a late 12th century font from the old church, cauldron shaped with lightly decorated scallops on the underside; it was removed when the church was deconsecrated. The church was declared redundant on February 23, 1971 and became the school chapel for Shaftesbury Grammar School for boys. This later became Shaftesbury School (comprehensive) and the building is now used as a teaching and performance space for drama and music." [NB: the entry does not mention where the old font was moved to].