Tadmarton / Tademertone / Upper Tadmarton

There are two entries for Tadmarton [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://opendomesday.org/place/SP3937/tadmarton/] [accessed 7 November 2017], neither of which mentions priest or church in it. Sherwood and Pevsner (1974) note: "Font. Early C14, with elaborate but rustic decoration. The square bowl has a row of heads and large ballflower below intersecting arches and circles in low relief. It rests on an octagonal base, each face panelled with a trefoil arch." The entry for this parish in the Victoria County History (Oxon., vol. 9, 1969) notes: "The earliest evidence for the existence of a church in Tadmarton is early Norman work in the church building [...] The small church of ST. NICHOLAS comprises a nave and chancel, both with north aisles, and a western tower. [...] The 12th-century church was on the same plan, except that there is no evidence of a tower. Of the original building there remains the north nave arcade, some blocked arches on the north side of the chancel, and the internal jambs of a low-side window on the south side. The church was enlarged in the 13th century [...] The 13th-century font with its vigorous row of grotesque heads remains." Baptismal font consisting of a square basin with tapering sides, decorated with a running tendril or vine on some of the sides, one other side decorated with a variety of motifs: intersecting circles, intersecting arches and plant-like motifs; human heads alternate with ballflower motifs around the lower rim; a flat moulding adorns the upper rim; octagonal stem with trefoil panels or arches; the lower basin is octagonal-to-square.