Berwick St. James

Listed in Buck (1951) as one of "several fonts dating from the latter half of the 12th century which, whilst retaining some Norman characteristics such as the chamfered edge, are devoid of all the other usual Norman ornaments, thus showing the tendency towards the Early English style during the period generally known as Transitional Norman", in which group Buck includes: Alvediston, Berwick St. James, Broughton Gifford, Collingbourne Ducis, Odstock and Westwood. The Victoria County History (Wiltshire, vol. 15, 1995) notes: "Berwick St. James church was standing in the mid 12th century. [...] he nave is of the mid 12th century: on the inside the north doorway has an order of chevrons on the arch and a lintel decorated with diaper carving." There is no font mentioned in the VCH entry for this parish. The present font consists of a plain bucket-shaped basin raised on a plain cylindrical stem, and a lower base that is round an moulded at the top, but square and moulded below. The wooden cover is conical and appears modern.