Padlesworth / Paddlesworth / Palsworth (Kent)

The Kent Archaeological Society website entry for Paddlesworth [http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Libr/MIs/MIsPaddlesworth/01.htm] [accessed 17 February 2010] cites from the notes taken by Rev. Bryan Faussett in 1758: "It has neither Altar Peice, nor Font; but, instead of the Latter, is a large Stone (placed on a Larger, by Way of Base) on which the Old Font formerly stood, which serves to set ye Bason upon." Hasted (1799) notes: "The church, which is dedicated to St. Oswald, is, I believe the lowest and the least in the county. It is very antient indeed, being built of large slint stones, and consists of one very small isle, and still smaller chancel […] Between the isle and chancel is a circular arch, with Saxon ornaments. At the west end of the isle is part of a large circular pillar, about two feet high, very antient, seemingly the basis of the font, which there is none now. There is no steeple or turret, but at the west end of the roof hangs one bell." Glynne (1877) visited this church in 1868 and reported: "The font is cup-shaped on a low base". The 'font' Glynne saw is probably the same there is now, a modern cup-shaped object placed on the surviving cylindrical base of the original (?) font. Described in Igglesden (1925): "The font stands upon a platform of ancient stones -maybe paving stones- and consists of a cylindrical stem with a basin-shaped bowl. A hundred and fifty years ago Hasted said, the bowl was missing, and there is a 'saying' in Paddlesworth that is was found in a farm yard, used for drinking purposes. This was a sacrilegious practice common in the days when the rural population had not been sufficiently educated to value old-world masonry." [NB: we have no information on the missing basin].