Bracon Ash / Braccas / Braccles / Braconash / Brakene

Blomefield (1805-1810) writes: "The church is 36 feet long, and 18 broad, and the chancel is 33 feet long and 16 broad; the south isle is 36 feet long and six wide; there is no steeple, but one bell hanging in a shed at the south-east corner of the churchyard; the nave, isle, chancel, and north porch, are all tiled. [...] Sir Hugh Peverel [this 'Hugh Peverel' would have to be the nephew of William Peverel of Essex] was patron here when Norwich Domsday [sic - refers to Little Domesday of 1085-1086, which covered Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk] was made". Blomefield (ibid.) names "Master Tho. de Morle" as first recorded rector here presented in 1322 by "Sir Hugh Peverel, Knt" [NB: this 'Hugh Peverel' would be a much later member of the family of the earlier patron -many of the descendents were called 'Hugh', most likely the one born ca. 1300]. The present font here is illustrated in Knott (2006); it consists of a dodecagonal-to-octagonal basin raised on an octagonal pedestal and lower base; two-step square plinth. The wodden cover has a low dome of ribs and is modern; it bears a dedication to a dead child. The font itself could be a re-cutting of an earlier font, or a composite; the upper rim of the basin shows signs of old age, but the sides, underbowl and base are sharp and newly-looking, the base itself surely a modern replacement.