Ancroft

In his entry for Ancroft, Wilson (1870) writes: "Built into the south wall of the nave, on the outer side, is a stone inscribed with the same initials and date as are on the font in Chillingham Church, which was removed from Ancroft on a gift of a new one by the vicar of Norham. Mr. Raine suggests that these initials, R. M. W. may be those of the curate, Robert Wood, and his wife. A portion, he adds, of the older font this one replaced is built up in a wall on the south side of the road, near the head of the village." [cf. Index entry for Chillingham for the later font now in Chillingham]. The Ancroft Memorial Hall website [http://ancroftmemorialhall.co.uk/thechurch.html] [accessed 14 January 2010] notes: "The original font had been removed during the time of Oliver Cromwell and is now in Chillingham church. The present font was carved out of stone from Finchale Abbey in County Durham. The panels were carved by an Italian sculptor employed at Durham Cathedral. Conflicting stories claim that the font was given by either Archdeacon Thorp, warden of Durham University at the time, or by the Rev Dr Gilly."