Didlington / Dudlington / Dudelingtuna / Dudelingatuna

Blomefield (1805-1810) writes: "The church of Dudlington [sic] is a regular structure, having a nave and south and north isles, covered with lead; the length of the nave is about 49 feet, and the breadth, including the isles, about 40 feet; the rest of the nave is of oak, and the vault of it is supported by octangular pillars, forming 8 arches, 4 on a side. [...] at the west end of this nave stands a four-square tower of flint, (as the church is,) with quoins and embattlements of free-stone; in this tower were lately three bells [...] The chancel is divided from the nave by an ancient screen, and is in length about forty, and in breadth about 16 feet, and has an ascent of three steps to the communion table, which is railed in [...] The church of Dudlington was formerly a rectory, and in the patronage of the Earls of Warren and Surry, and John Earl Warren is said, about the year 1300, to have given the presentation to the convent of Marham in Norfolk." Blomefield (ibid.) names "William de London" as first recorded "rector in the time of Heny III" [i.e., 1216-1272]. The dedication of the church is not given in Blomefield (ibid.) or in Cambers (1829). Listed in Leach (1975) as a font made of Purbeck marble, "the base is later". Pevsner & Wilson (1999) write: "The bowl octagonal, C13, of Purbeck marble and with the characteristic two shallow arches to each side, unfortunately whitewashed. The stem is Dec[orated] or Perp[endicular]." Noted and illustrated in Knott (2009): "The familiar 13th Century Purbeck Marble font, which you might have assumed was original to the building of the church, is set on a less usual late medieval pillar, suggesting that it was brought here in later years, perhaps by the Victorians." The underbowl chamfer has a floral motif on each side; the trefoiled arches of the stem have blank shields carved in them; on a two-step plinth.