Briston / Bristion / Brurstuna / Burston / Burstuna

There are two entries for Briston [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://domesdaymap.co.uk/place/TG0632/briston/] [accessed 22 January 2014], but there is no mention of either church or cleric in them. Blomefiled (1805-1810) writes: "The Church of Burston is dedicated to All-Saints, was anciently a rectory [...] In 1256, Stephen de Ponte, who was canon of St. Peter's church at Rome, occurs rector, by the provision of the Pope [...] On August 24, 1350, it was appropriated by the Bishop of Norwich to Trinity Hall in Cambridge. The Bishop's manor of Melton, held by the Cockfelds, seems to have extended here, and the Bishop, as capital lord, granted it; on this a vicarage was settled, who was to have a proper habitation with a pension of 10l. per ann. the patronage was to be in the said Hall, who were to present two, and the Bishop to choose one of them." Blomefield (ibid.) names "John de Redesham, vicar, presented by the master of Trinity Hall", as first recorded vicar. White's Directory of 1845 does not mention a font in this church, but its 1883 edition notes: "Great improvements have been made since 1864; the old gallery has been removed, the chancel paved with Minton's tiles, and new oak seats erected in the nave and chancel. The font has been restored, an oak screen set up, and a new oak pulpit erected. A vestry has also been built, and an old window in the chancel reopened." English Heritage [Listing NGR: TG0623432573] [www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-223914-church-of-all-saints-briston-norfolk] [accessed 22 January 2014] reports a mid-19th century font in this church. [NB: is this the restored font noted in White (1883)?]. The font consists of an octagonal basin with a crenellated top rim, eight large blind quatrefoiled panels between parallel mouldings, a graded underbowl chamfer; raised on a plain octagonal pedestal base, a moulded lower base and a plain plinth, both octagonal as well. The wooden cover with metal decoration and ring-handle is octagonal and flat; appears modern, perhaps Victorian as well. If this font is the one reported as restored in White [cf. supra] it must have been originally of a Perpendicular design not too different from its present one. [NB: we have no information on the font of the original mid-13th century (?) church here].