South Elmham St. Margaret

Suckling (1846-1848) writes: "The church was built about the reign of King John [i.e., 1199-1216], though it has been remodified at various periods." There is no mention of a font in Suckling's entry for this parish. The font is noted in Parker (1855): "Font, an octagon, with emblems of the Evangelists round the bowl". Illustrated in Knott (2008). Octagonal font of the East Anglia type; the symbols of the Evangelists alternate with demi-figures of angels holding blank shields; the upper level of the underbowl chamfer is completely plain, but that may be the result of later re-cutting, as there would have been heads -often of angels- on it; the lower level of the chamfer has a floral motif on each side, again as per usual in this type of font; the octagonal-to-square pedestal base, too, is typical of the design, with seated lions alternating with buttresses all around; on an octagonal plinth that appears original. The wooden cover has fat vertical scroll ribs on a flat octagonal base; Jacobean?