Itchingfield

Dudley (1836) writes of Itchingfield church: "The font is modern, but particularly neat and handsome; one of a very ancient description, was lately dug up in the churchyard." There is no mention in Harrison (1920) of the old font, but he dates the nave and chancel to ca, 1100. The Victoria County History, Sussex, vol. 6, pt. 2, 1986) notes: "There was a church at Itchingfield by the 12th century [...] The church, near the centre of the parish, is of the 11th or 12th century [...] The north and west walls of the nave with the west doorway and one small north window are of the late 11th or the 12th century. [...] The church was restored and enlarged under the direction of Sir Gilbert Scott in 1865-6. [...] A round Sussex marble font was discovered c. 1830; the present late medieval octagonal font was by then already in use." The present font has quatrefoils on the basin sides inscribed with, at least one Green Man's head/mask, and several floral motifs. [NB: we have no information on the font from the original Norman church here].