Stanstead Abbots / Stanstead Abbotts / Stanstede Abbatis / Stanstede Abbotts / Stanstede Abbot

There are four entries for Stanstede [Abbots] [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://opendomesday.org/place/TL3811/stanstead-abbots/] [accessed 26 October 2016], one of which mentions a priest but not a church in it, though there probably was one there. The Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, Hertfordshire (1911) report: "Font: circular basin, part of 13th-century base resversed, on 15th-century octagonal stem." The Victoria County Council (Hertford, vol. 3, 1912) notes: "The advowson of the church of St. James was given by Roger de Wancy [ca. 1178?] to the priory of Merton, co. Surrey. [...] The priory also held a carucate of land in right of the church, [...] which in 1291 was assessed at £20. [...] The earliest detail is of the 13th century, but it is probable that the nave walls are older. The chancel was built during that period and windows inserted in the nave. The west tower is of early 15th-century date [...] The basin of the font is of 13th-century date; it is circular, and on the rim are the original iron staples for securing the cover; on the south-west side is a small incised cross. The base appears to be of 13th-century date, reversed, but the octagonal stem belongs to the 15th century." The Church of St. Andrew, which now covers the needs of the parish, is of late-19th century date.