Norman Font - St Bartholomew - Longnor, Staffordshire - Romanesque Architecture on Waymarking.com

Norman font in St Bartholomew's church, Longnor.

"In 1086 Longnor was one of the scattered appendages of the manor of Bradley (near Stafford) held by Robert of Stafford and consisted of one hide. It was certainly part of Alstonefield manor by the 13thc, probably earlier, and remained so until the 16thc. Alstonefield was held by William from Earl Roger of Stafford in 1086. A fair and a market were recorded in 1293, held at Longnor by the Lord of Alstonefield.

Benefice of Longnor, Quarnford and Sheen.



Located at the W end of the nave, under the gallery. It is chalice-shaped with bowl and stem carved from the same block of stone. The exterior of the bowl is roughly shaped, with incised decoration on the N, W and S faces, consisting of a series of motifs, apparently without connection, as follows (reading from L to R starting at the N):

1. A recessed blank shield.

2. A similar shield with a central escutcheon.

3. A round human head with worn features simply inscribed, with hair or a headdress indicated by an inscribed line. This identification is uncertain.

4. A shield with an escutcheon within a bordure.

5. An inverted blank shield tilted at a slight angle from the vertical. The basin is circular and unlined. The bowl has rim damage at the E (two holes), the SE (two holes and a large chip) and the NW (a large chip).

Dimensions -
ext. diam. at rim 0.83 m
h. of font 1.00 m
int. diam. 0.58 m

The font is the only evidence of a Norman church; the earliest mention of the church itself is in 1448. The font was in the churchyard in 1830, when the archdeacon ordered that it be put back in the church. He had to repeat his order in 1837, but by 1857 it was at the W end of the nave. According to Pevsner the carved motifs are 'scarcely recognizable and must at least partly be re-cut'."

SOURCE - (visit link)

Romanesque or Pre-Romanesque: Romanesque Web site proof of Romanesque or Pre-Romanesque features: [Web Link] Type of building (structure): Church Address: St Bartholomew Church Street Longnor Staffordshire England SK17 0PE Date of origin: Not listed Architect(s) if known: Not listed

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