Axminster (Devon)

Pulman (1854) cites from the parish books an entry referent to a payment made "To Leonard Peream and Thomas Poole for setting up the font, and lead, and soder, and labor £2 s.5 d.0"; this Pulman footnotes with a citation from a 'Mr. Davidson': "The font had no doubt been thrown down during the rebellion, and its lining of lead converted into bullets" [NB: the date of the parish books entry is not dated but it must correspond to circa 1660, the time of the end of the Commonwealth and the Restoration of Charles I]. The font itself is described as ancient, large and of octagonal shape; located then [i.e., ca. 1854] in front of the pulpitt, and Pulman (bid.) adds, "It formerly occupied its proper place, from which it was removed when the singing gallery was reduced to its present dimensions, in 1834." John Murray's Handbook for travellers […] (1865) notes: "in the nave […] an old but plain font". Illustrated in 1875 in Hutchinson's diaries and sketchbooks (2010). Not mentioned in Pevsner (1952). [NB: the fabric of the church goes back to Norman times but we no other information on the date of this font]. The present font is illustrated by Ceolmor in Flickr [http://www.flickr.com/photos/23401971@N03/2819939070/in/set-72157607072307003/] [accessed 6 January 2010], an octagonal basin with tapering sides, a moulded octagonal stem and a square lower base; the font cover is a modern one, octagonal and flat, with a caarving of the Baptism of Christ. If this is the original font, it has been totally re-cut.