Guisborough No. 1 / Chigesborg / Chigesburg / Ghigesborc / Ghigesborg / Ghigesburg / Gigesburg / Gyghesborc / Gyseburne

There are four entries for Guisborough [variant spellings] in the Domesday survey [https://opendomesday.org/place/NZ6116/guisborough/] [accessed 30 September 2019], two of which report a church in each. The entry for this parish in the Victoria County History (York North Riding, vol. 2, 1923) notes: "Domesday Book records that in the Count of Mortain's holding at Guisborough, Middleton and Hutton there was a church with a priest. [...] Not until 1426, however, is the church of St. Nicholas [...] mentioned. The church was presumably included, though it is not named, in the grant of Guisborough made about 1119–24 by Robert de Brus to the priory of St. Mary [...] The building has but little ancient work [...] except in the chancel, nave arcades and tower, having been almost entirely rebuilt or restored at the close of the 18th century and again in 1903–8. The older parts just named are of late 15th or early 16th-century date and are of no great architectural interest, though the design of the tower with its lofty external arch and recessed entrance is unusual. [...] The font dates from 1872." The entry for this church in Historic England [Listing NGR: NZ6165016118] notes: "Church, c.1500, on pre-1086 foundation. Aisle walls rebuilt 1790 and largely again during restoration of 1904-8 by Temple Moore. North extensions of 1889"; no font mentioned. Although the church of St. Nicholas is old, earlier parts dating to the late-13th and 15th centuries; it was rebuilt at the end of the 18th century, the font itself is Victorian, consisting of a round tub with protrusions at the four cardinal points, an awkward design resting on five squat marble colums and a two-step plinth. The wooden cover is a tall octagonal construct with an angel (?) finial; the upper part is decorated with what appears to be a mobile of sorts. [NB: we have no information on the earlier font here].