Bitteswell / Betmeswel / Betmeswelle

There are two entries for Bitteswell [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://opendomesday.org/place/SP5385/bitteswell/] [accessed 27 July 2015], one of which mentions a priest, but not a church, in it though there probably was one there. A font of the 14th century here is noted and illustrated in Upcott (1818). The Gentleman's Magazine (vol. 92, pt. 2, Dec. 1822: 504) includes a letter to the editor dated October 29, 1822 by a 'Antiquarius Carbonarius', which contains a long praise for the recently completed "complete renovation" at Bitteswell church, and mentions the font itself: "The font is remarkable neat; the body contains six compartments, each furnished with pointed quatrefoils, so carved as to resemble spreading foliage." The entry for this church in English Heritage [Listing NGR: SP5373385855] (1955) states: "Fittings: benches, font, pulpit, all C19", and Chris Jones notes: "The font is thought to date to around 1857", so the 14th-century font reported in Upcott [cf. supra] had already been replaced by October 1822, or Upcott mis-dated the font there. [NB: we have no information on the whereabouts of that 14thCfont, or of the one from the original Domesday-time church here].