Ecton / Echentone / Ecton / Ekenton / Eketon / Ekton

Cole (1865 [1825]) reports: "Discarded font.-- There is a curiously carved horse-trough in the Farm-yard of Mr. William Fascutt, which has evidently descended from its original place of destination. It is thought to be the remains of the old font of the Church. It is round, and about forty-five inches in circumference, and three in thickness." Described in the Victoria County History (Northampton, vol. 4, 1937): "The building in the main is of 13th-century date, with alterations and additions in the 14th and 15th centuries, but it may have developed from a 12thcentury aisleless church with central tower, north and south transepts and short chancel. [...] The font, which has a circular bowl, was in use in 1825 as a horse-trough at a neighbouring farm, […] and its carved ornamentation has suffered but it is apparently not earlier than the 14th century" [NB: the VCH makes reference to Cole's notes on this font]. Noted in Mee (1945): "The much-worn font has a round bowl with traceried circles." In Pevsner & Cherry (1973): "Circular, defaced; the raw tracery may indicate the C14." The Village web [www.ectonvillage.co.uk/churchhistory.html] [accessed 31 March 2009] informs: "the font, which had once been lost for many years and had been found serving as a drinking trough in a local farmyard, has received specialist conservation work."