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. The entry for this church in Historic England [Listing NGR: NU1784334964] notes: "Parish church. C12, C13 and C14. Restored 1830 and later C19 [...] Indications of earlier Romanesque church include round rere-arch of north transept east window, masonry of south transept north wall, and uneven build of east end of nave" but it mentions no font in it. The entry for this church in Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Aidan's_Church,_Bamburgh] [accessed 31 March 2026] mentions "The present church dates from the late 12th century [...] (though some pre-conquest stonework survives in the north aisle)." The modern font 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]