Bearley / Burlei

There is an entry for Bearley [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://domesdaymap.co.uk/place/SP1760/bearley/] [accessed 19 November 2014], neither of which mentions cleric or church in it. Notices of the churches of Warwickshire (vol. 1, 1847) notes: "Bearley is another chapelry of the extensive parish of Wootton Wawen, from which village it is about two miles distant, in the direction of Stratford-on-Avon. There appears to have been a Chapel here as early as the time of Richard I., as in the 1st year of that monarch's reign [i.e., 1189] Nicholas de Burlei, and his son William, conveyed all their interest therein to the Church of Wootton and the Priory of Conches; which grant was subsequently confirmed by their successor John, who for its better confirmation levied a fine thereon in 5th Hen. III. [i.e., 1221] No trace of an early structure is however visible in the present Chapel, which is a small building, consisting of chancel, nave, and tower at the west end, and presents no feature of architectural or ecclesiastical interest. [...] The font is an octangular basin, each face being ornamented with a sunk panel containing a quartrefoil within a circle : it is a portion of the ancient font, (the shaft being broken away) of 15th century work, standing upon the floor. It is much to be wished that a shaft of appropriate design should be added, and the font restored to the due proportion and importance befitting this distinguishing ornament of the Christian Church." The Victoria County History (Warwick, vol. 3, 1945) notes: "In 1221 John de Burle granted the advowson of the chapel of Bearley to the Prior of Wootton Wawen. [...] The parish church [...] has been largely rebuilt in modern times, but the nave dates probably from the end of the 12th century and the chancel with its thinner walls may be of the 13th or 14th century. [...] The register of baptisms begins in 1549"; there is no font mentioned in the VCH entry. English Heritage [Listing NGR: SP1818460547] (1967) reports a "C19 octagonal font with quatrefoils" in this church. [NB: is the present font the re-cut/re-carved original? If so, of what date?]