Narborough nr. King's Lynn / Narburgh / Nereburgh

Blomefield (1805-1810) writes: "N[arburgh] [...] was a place of eminence in the Saxon age", but neither he nor the Domesday survey of 1086 mention a church here before the reign of Edward I (1272-1307), and the first recorded cleric of it is "Hugh de Narburgh", in 1308. Blomefield (ibid.) describes the church and includes an ancient font in his description: "The church of Narburgh is dedicated to all the Saints, and has a nave, a north and a south isle, and a chancel built of flint, &c. the nave is in length about 60 feet, and about 30 in breadth, including both the isles, [...] and is covered with reed. This nave or body is of great antiquity, much older than the isles or chancel, as is plain from the form of its building, and its different order or way of workmanship; the inside of it is camerated and impannelled with wainscot, the mitres of these pannels are ornamented with shields, many of which, through length of time, are lost and decayed, what are remaining and could be distinguished are here blazoned, though the colours in many are now very obscure, most of them relating to marriages in the Shouldham, Narburgh, and Spelman families [...] and at the west end is a large antique font of stone". A modern font based on a 15th-century design, octagonal, with cusped and traceried panels, is illustrated in Knott (2006), but it is described as Perpendicular by 'Dragontree' in www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMEA91_All_Saints_Church_Narborough_Norfolk [accessed 15 May 2013]: "The font is perpendicular period with fleurons alternating with shields on the 8 sides. The shields feature a Star of Bethlehem, IHS, Cross with ring of glory, Crown and sword crossed with a palm branch." [NB: if the font is late-medieval, as claimed above, it has been completely re-cut and re-carved]. [NB: we have no information on the font of the original church here].