Bamburgh / Bamborough / Bambrough / Bebbanburgh / Din Guaroy

Mackenzie (1825) writes of the finding the chapel of 'Bambrough' Castle in the summer of the year 1773; in the buried chapel, "The font, richly carved, is also remaining, and is now preserved amongst the curiosities in the keep" [NB: we have no information on the whereabouts of this font]. The National Gazetteer of 1868 notes: "The church is dedicated to St. Aidan, and stands in the village, about half a mile from the ruins of the ancient one erected by King Oswald in the castle", but does not mention a font [NB: this Oswald would be King Oswald (604-642), king of Northumbria]. Wilson (1870) mentions a font at the west end of the south aisle, but does not give any details of it. A modern font is illustrated in Mark Ridgwell's website [http://www.markridgwell.co.uk] [accessed 15 January 2010]; it consists of an octagonal basin that has four concave sides decorated with large symbols (foliated cross, shield in a quatrefoil, etc.) alternating with four sides that are straight and plain; there is an inscription on the upper rim chamfer; underbowl chamfer with mouldings and floral motifs; square stem and lower base; octagonal plinth with kneeling stone. The wooden cover is octagonal, a low pyramid with a ribbed tiny top and an urn finial; also modern. [NB: not clear whether or not this font is the one noted in Wilson ca. 1870; we have no information on the earlier font(s) of this church]