Stradsett / Stradset / Strateseta

"in the time of the Confessor", writes Blomefield (1805-1810), "In the said town, [...] a church endowed with 30 acres [...] The Church of Stradset is dedicated to St. Mary, and is an ancient single fabrick of flint and boulder, or carr stone, having a body in length about 60 feet, and in breadth about 19, covered with reed; at the west end is a four-square tower, with quoins and embattlements of free-stone, wherein hang 3 bells [...] This church was given in the beginning of King Henry the Third's reign [i.e., 1216-1272] to the abbey of West Derham, by Sir Osbert de Stradset, and soon after, in the said reign, it was appropriated to the abbey, and a vicar endowed". Blomefield (ibid.) names "Nicholas de Duntone" first recorded vicar here, in 1314. The present font is illustrated in context in Knott (2004). The present octagonal font is decorated with tracery on the basin sides, floral motifs on the underbowl and tracery on the octagonal stem; raised on an octagonal plinth. All of it modern, probably of the 19th century. [NB: we have no information on the original font of the medieval church here].