Newbiggin nr. Penrith

Curwen (1932) writes: "The first mention of a church here appears to be in a charter of Hugh de Temple Sowerby which is witnessed by Walter, rector of Newbiggin. This Walter appears in the Coram Rege Rolls in 1258–9 on an action brought against him [...] In the "Antique Taxatio Ecclesiastica" of Pope Nicholas IV, 1291, the church is taxed at nothing [...] The church was repaired in 1804 and rebuilt in 1853–4." A font here is noted and partially illustrated in www.visitcumbria.com/pen/chp23.htm [accessed 26 January 2010]. Octagonal mounted font with decorated panels on the basin; pyramidal wooden cover with crocketed arrises; the cover has a pulley sytem to raise it. Located at the west end of the nave, behind the left (south) bank of pews. [NB: the early church here dated from the Norman period, but we have no information on its font].