Chirton / Ceritone / Cherrington / Churton
Image copyright © John Wilkes, 2006
Standing permission
Results: 7 records
B01: Apostle or saint - Apostles - 12 - 1 per niche
Scene Description: [cf. Font notes]
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © John Wilkes, 2006
Image Source: digital photograph by John Wilkes [www.allthecotswolds.com]
Copyright Instructions: Standing permission
B02: design element - architectural - arcade - round arches - 12
Scene Description: [cf. Font notes]
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © John Wilkes, 2006
Image Source: digital photograph by John Wilkes [www.allthecotswolds.com]
Copyright Instructions: Standing permission
BBL01: design element - motifs - vine - acanthus
Scene Description: all around the lower basin side
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © John Wilkes, 2006
Image Source: digital photograph by John Wilkes [www.allthecotswolds.com]
Copyright Instructions: Standing permission
BBU01: design element - motifs - vine - acanthus
Scene Description: all around the upper basin side
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © John Wilkes, 2006
Image Source: digital photograph by John Wilkes [www.allthecotswolds.com]
Copyright Instructions: Standing permission
BS01: design element - motifs - floral
Scene Description: in the spandrels of the arcade
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © John Wilkes, 2006
Image Source: digital photograph by John Wilkes [www.allthecotswolds.com]
Copyright Instructions: Standing permission
view of font and cover
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © John Wilkes, 2006
Image Source: digital photograph by John Wilkes [www.allthecotswolds.com]
Copyright Instructions: Standing permission
view of church exterior - south view
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © John Wilkes, 2012
Image Source: digital photograph taken 30 July 2012 by John Wilkes [www.allthecotswolds.com]
Copyright Instructions: Standing permission
INFORMATION
Font ID: 12068CHI
Object Type: Baptismal Font1
Font Century and Period/Style: 12th century, Late Norman
Church / Chapel Name: Parish Church of St. John the Baptist
Font Location in Church: Inside the church
Church Patron Saint(s): St. John the Baptist
Church Address: The Street, Chirton, Wiltshire, SN10 3RP, UK
Site Location: Wiltshire, South West, England, United Kingdom
Directions to Site: Located off the A342, 8 km ESE of Devizes
Ecclesiastic Region: Diocese of Salisbury
Historical Region: Hundred of Swanborough -- Hundred of Studfold [in Domesday]
Additional Comments: damaged font: some of the sculpture has been mutilated
Font Notes:
Click to view
Noted in Cox (1875) as a "leaden font" [NB: Cox uses spelling 'Churton']. Described and illustrated in Buck (1951), who identifies the figures in the arcade: "They represent the Twelve Apostles, though St. Peter is usually shown holding two keys. This subject is carved on over twenty other fonts in various parts of the country, those at Avington, Berks[hire], Gloucester Cathedral, Micheldean and Rendcomb in Glo[uce]s[tershire], being the nearest examples [...] The stem and base are modern and are painted chocolate colour". The Victoria County History (Wiltshire, vol. 10, 1975) notes: "The date would suggest that an existing church at Chirton may have been either rebuilt or extensively altered and embellished soon after Lanthony Priory acquired it in 1167. [...] the 19th century. James Dutch's restoration of 1850 retained the basic shape of the church, apart from the addition of a vestry, but its effect on details was severe. [...] Most of the church furnishings were renewed, although the church retains a 12th-century circular stone font bearing carvings of the apostles beneath arcades." Noted in Pevsner & Cherry (1975): "Font. Norman, circular, with statuettes of the twelve apostles under arches. Once apparently an excellent piece." Wrongly listed in Andre (1882) as a 'leaden font' of the Norman period [probably after Cox (1875)]. Noted in Churchcrawler's visit to the church (5 March 2006): "the font, a Norman tub with figures of the 12 apostles under arches, a remarkable piece of sculpture but like so many others sadly mutilated. Norman" [source: http://churchcrawler.blogspot.com/2006/03/wiltshire-churches-and-dogs.html]. Reported also by James Fielding on his visit to this church (25 March 2006): "the font with the Twelve Apostles around the bowl" [source: http://digiatlas.blogspot.com/2006_03_01_digiatlas_archive.html].
Credit and Acknowledgements: We are grateful to John Wilkes, of www.allthecotswolds.com, for his photographs of this church and font
COORDINATES
UTM: 30U 577089 5685910
MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS
Material: stone
Font Shape: cylindrical, mounted
Basin Interior Shape: round
Basin Exterior Shape: round
Diameter (includes rim): 70 cm*
Basin Depth: 28.75 cm*
Basin Total Height: 47.5 cm*
Notes on Measurements: * [in inches in Buck (1951)]
LID INFORMATION
Date: unknown
Material: wood, oak?
Apparatus: no
Notes: flat and round
REFERENCES
- Victoria County History [online], University of London, 1993-. URL: https://www.british-history.ac.uk.
- André, J. Lewis, "Leaden Fonts in Sussex", 32, Surrey Archaeological Collections, relating to the history and antiquities of the county, 1882
- Buck, A.G. Randle, "Some Wiltshire fonts. Part II", LIV, CXCIV (June 1951), The Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, 1951, pp. 19-35; p. 25-26 and pl. III.26
- Cox, John Charles, 1875-1877
- Cox, John Charles, Nottinghamshire, London: Allen, 1912, p. 173
- Lübke, Wilhelm, Ecclesiastical in Gemany during the Middle Ages [tranl. by L. A. Wheatley], London: Cassell, Petter, & Galpin, 1870, p. 63