Sparham

Blomefield (1805-1810) notes that Sparham was held by Godric of King Alfred, "of which Edwin, a freeman, (as the book of Domesday sets forth) was lord [...] here was also a church endowed with 40 acres and 6 acres of wood". Blomefield (ibid.) adds: "The Church is a regular pile, consisting of a nave, north and south isle, covered with lead, a square tower at the west end of the nave, embattled, with 5 bells, and a chancel that is tiled. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was formerly a rectory", and gives "Thomas de Kensington" as the first recorded rector, in 1303. A notable font cover is reported in James (1930), without mention of the font itself. Pevsner & Wilson (1999), too, mention the cover only: "Tall Perp[endicular] canopy, i.e. late C14: central drum with eight radiating buttresses above. The very top is a restoration." Both font and cover are illustrated in Knott (2006). The font is octagonal and almost totally plain, just a moulded underbowl decorates it; it is also whitewashed, which does not help with the dating; it could be medieval or Victorian, more likely the latter. [NB: we have no information on the earlier font(s) of this church].