Debden

The British Museum has an etching of the font at Debden [sic] Church; the print was made in 1788 for an illustration in the European Magazine. 1793: "Print made by William Bromley [...] after Henry Holland [...] published by John Sewell [...] London [...] 1788 [ref.: AN558270001. Department: Prints & Drawings. Registration number: 1875,0710.5138. Location: British Masters Portfolio]. Described in Lewis' Dictionary of 1848: "the font, an elegant piece of workmanship, adorned with statues, was presented by the late Mr. Chiswell." Noted in Pevsner (1976): "Font. 1786; octagonal, of Coade stone, in an elaborate and crisp Neo-Perp[endicular], with foiled panels; against the stem minute figues. The design was provided by R. Holland." Bettley & Pevsner (2007) expand the previous note and identify the designer as Richard Holland: "made by B. De Carle of Coade's 'lithodipyra', as an inscription records", with figures of the Cardinal Virtues and Christian Graces "derived from Reynold's W[est] window of New College, Oxford." [NB: the font originally from Chelmsford Cathedral now in St Peter's is identical -- cf. Index entry for Chelmsford No. 2]. [NB: the fabric of the church goes back to the 13th century, but we have no information on the medieval font]