Burbage / Burbage by Markborough

The ancient font here is documented in an 1806 watercolour by John Buckler (1770-1851). Information on the old font of Burbage All Saints' font is collected in Colin Younger's 'Stories of Burbage & its people' [http://www.burbage-wiltshire.co.uk/FHS/stories.htm] [accessed 30 August 2008]: "Note concerning Burbage old Font Contributed by David White (Note, written in 1903, copied from the front of the 1848 Baptism Register) 'When with misguided zeal and ever to be lamented energy, the Vicar of Burbage in the year 1853 destroyed every vestige of the old church except the tower, the Font which had served for the regeneration of countless generations of Burbage inhabitants was ruthlessly done away with, and the present modern, machine made Baptism bowl was erected in its place. I have endeavoured to learn what became of the ancient font. After much search I have obtained evidence that it formerly served as a flower pot in a late churchwardens garden (Mr Gale) here. Upon the death of the churchwarden, the widow removed to Havering in the parish of Milton Lilbourne in this county, taking the font with her. I am informed that now (1903) the said font is still to be seen as an ornamental flower pot at Havering exposed to the rain and frost and therefore (if not already ruined) perishing in dishonour, the victim of a sacriledge which puts utterly in the shade, the doings of the Cromwellian Puritans.'" The present [2008] baptismal font at Burbage All Saints' consists of an octagonal basin, the sides decorated with diamond panels, raised on a pedestal base. It appears Victorian. It is topped with a pyramidal wooden cover probably of the 19th century as well. A stoup of the Decorated period is noted in Parker (1850). The Victoria County History (Wiltshire, vol. 16, 1999) notes: "A church stood at Burbage in 1086. [...] Of the old church the tower, which incorporated a west porch, was 14th-century, the chancel mostly 14th-century, the south aisle 15th-century, and the south porch 16th-century. [...] All Saints' church [...] was largely rebuilt c. 1853 [...] The registers survive from 1561 and are complete." There is no mention of a font in the VCH entry for this parish. The font, as illustrated by Buckler [cf. supra] appears to consist of a roughly hemispherical basin decorated with a roll moulding at the upper rim, with a band of pellet (?) motif below, and a moulded underbowl; on a round stem decorated with piping (?) all around, and a square lower base; it has the appearance of a composite object.