Oxford No. 6 / Oxeneford

There are thirteen entries for Oxford [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://opendomesday.org/place/SP5106/oxford/] [accessed 9 November 2016], two of which mention a church in each. The Victoria County History (Oxford, vol. 4, 1979) notes: "The west tower dates from the later 11th century and the church was well established by 1086 [...] The medieval font was replaced in 1710, [...] and the 18th-century one in the 19th century. [...] When the parish was united with St. Martin's and All Saints, the late-14th-century font originally in St. Martin's was brought to St. Michael's." [NB: the VCH notes that the removal of the medieval font in 1710 is recorded in the Parish Records, churchwardens accounts]. On-site notes: the present font is octagonal and appears monolithic, of the type without defined volumes in the shape, althouth the decoration indicates the basin-stem-base division: the upper valume has shields at the corners and in the centre of the face; the next volume down has setes of three quatrefoil motifs on each side; the third volume down, the tallest of all, has very deeply-set niches with a satnding figure in each, the background behind the figures decorated with panels or arches; octagonal lower base; octagonal plinth. On-site notes: the stone surface is fairly worn and has some damage; the flat wooden cover, octagonal with metal decoration and ring handle, appears modern. [cf. Index entry from a font at Yarnton, Oxon., said to have been originally "from St. Michael's church, Oxford"]