Bobbingworth / Bovinger

The Victoria County History (Essex, vol. 4, 1956) notes: "The date of the original nave is not known but it may be indicated by a 13th-century piscina in the south wall, now reset, [...] In 1909 Frederic Chancellor stated that during then recent work to the south wall ancient oak uprights were found embedded near its west end. [...] He suggested that these might have represented part of a pre-Conquest church, but in the absence of better evidence this must remain extremely doubtful. [...] The stone font is of the 15th century with an octagonal bowl and a moulded shaft. In 1770 the bowl was removed and a new one fitted to the pedestal [...] In 1936 the original bowl, carved with the initials 'J.P.', was discovered in the churchyard at Little Parndon. It was presented to Bobbingworth by the Netteswell and Little Parndon Parochial Church Council and now occupies its original position." The British Listed Buildings website [http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-117748-church-of-st-germain-bobbingworth] [accessed 15 June 2010] notes: "The font is octagonal and lead lined, possibly C15, resting on a later moulded octagonal base." Bettley & Pevsner (2007) date the font to the 15th century, without distinction of basin and base.