Badgeworth / Beiewrde

The entry for this church in Historic England [Listing NGR: SO9015119234] notes: "Anglican parish church. Early C14, probably with earlier origins [...] Plain C19 octagonal stone font at the west end of the north aisle." The font is noted in Verey & Brooks (1999-2002) as either Victorian or altered medieval: "The furnishings are mostly by Middleton [i.e., John Middleton who restored the church in 1868-1869], including the plain octagonal font (unless this has been most severely scraped)." The font could indeed be a re-tooling of a Decorated font; the octagonal basin has plain vertical sides chamfered at both ends; raised on an octagonal stem and lower base, both moulded, and an octagonal plinth with kneeling stone; the plinth appears modern. The wooden cover is octagonal and flat, heavily decorated with metal , and has the old-fashioned locking bar across the top, although it could be a Victorian version of the old system.