Image ID: 43052

Anglo-Norman Font, St Wilfred's Church, Car Colston Road, Screveton, 1899

Courtesy of Nottingham and Notts Photographic Society

Car Colston Road
Screveton
Nottinghamshire
England

The font is specially interesting. It possesses a beautiful arcade of intersecting arches, with pillars that are practically disengaged from the body of the font. Above the arcade, the rim of the font is adorned with leaf work and a continuous piece of cable work, one strand of which is enriched with the nail-head ornament. The arcading runs closer on the western side, and indicates that the mason has worked without any plan or any preliminary striking, out of his design. At the ends of a diameter of the font, running north and south, it should be noticed that the font has been repaired by two pieces of new Roche stone, given by Lord Scarbrough to the present rector. Apparently the font has possessed a lid, with hinge at one side and hasp at the other.<br /><br />Now what is the date of this font? About 1170 is the date generally given, and it is spoken of as transitional Norman. But Rickman gives the date as 1140 for the Ancaster font, and 1150 for the date of similar arcading at Kelso, Scotland, We have examples of this arcading at Southwell, Peterborough, Croyland, Lincoln, etc., not to mention a ruder form of it at Stanton-on-the-Wolds. The text books regard this arcading as Norman, where it is not combined with the lancet arch. There is similar arcade work, semicircular and intersecting, on the west front of Lincoln Minster, the date of which lies within well-known limits. It may be as early as 1123, and cannot be later than 1147. On these grounds I am inclined to think that this Screveton font may well be from thirty to forty years older than it is generally said to be.(taken from http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/articles/tts/tts1908/autumn/screvetonchurch.htm)The church is late 12th and early 13th century Church with 15th century tower and some interesting misericord carvings on the ends of pews; Grade I listed - further detailed information of which can be found at: http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-448159-church-of-st-wilfrid-screveton

Date: 1899

Organisation Reference: NCCV000138

Organisation: