Upottery / Up-Ottery

Noted in Pevsner (1952): "Font. Perp[endicular], octagonal, with quatrefoil panels." Cooke (2003) notes that in nearby Smeatharpe: "The community seemed to fade after the aerodrome closed and the barracks that were scattered around were sold or demolished. The school closed in 1962 […] The church altar, font, cross and candlesticks and the painting, situated over the altar, were given to St. Mary's Church in Upottery and placed in the Lady Chapel" [NB: it is not clear whether or not these furnishings were modern or from an earlier church; most likely the former, as Smeatharpe appears not to have had a church proper, but may have held religious services at the village school with the help of the vicars from Upottery]. [NB: baptismal records at Upottery St. Mary's are kept since 1702]