Everleigh

Noted in Buck (1951) as part of group of late Norman Wiltshire fonts of ca. 1150-1200 similar to the one at Stockton. Noted in Pevsner & Cherry (1975): "Font. Circular, Norman, with scallops on underside." The Victoria County History (Wiltshire, vol. 11, 1980) notes: "By 1228 the church of Everleigh had been granted to Wherwell Abbey (Hants). [...] The medieval church dedicated to St. Peter stood south-east of the manor-house. [...] The church was valued at £8 and the vicarage at £5 6s. 8d. in 1291. [...] a new church of St. Peter was built c. 800 m. northwest of the old, roughly half-way between East and West Everleigh. The old church was then pulled down. [...] The church was restored in 1903 when the box-pews were converted into the existing ones. The 12th-century font from the old church was installed in 1911. [...] By 1973 attendances had declined so severely and the new church was so dilapidated that it was decided to ask the Redundant Churches Fund to accept responsibility. [...] In 1974 the new church was declared redundant, and in 1975 its care vested in the Redundant Churches Fund." The Everleigh web site [http://www.everleigh.org/buildings/st-peters-church.html] [accessed 5 September 2008] notes : "A canon ball mounted on a pedestal immediately in front of this [i.e., the new church founder's monument], as a relic of the Battle of the Alma in the Crimean War, where the aforementioned Sir John was wounded, has since been romoved. Its pedestal was the font which was in use from 1814 until 1911 when the ancient Norman font from the old Church, was restored to its rightful place. This very old font is now mounted on a modern base, and its whereabouts during the years mentioned is something of a mystery."