Font in Freshford Lots

Within the RC church in Freshford, left of the altar where it is in use as a baptismal font . The original location of this font is unknown, it may have come from St Lachtain's church (KK013-023001-), currently the C of I church c. 165m to the N. A square limestone font (total H 0.41m; H above base chamfer 0.33m; Wth 0.65-0.66m), the lower edge of each side is chamfered (D of chamfer 0.1m). The four angles of the font are also chamfered, each terminating with a broach stop above the base chamfer. It currently rests on a modern pedestal. It is decorated with arcades, the N and E sides with seven round-headed arches, the S side with seven pointed arches and the W side with five ogee-headed arches with spandrels. The columns dividing the arches on the S and W sides continue onto the base chamfer where they taper to a point. The raised surrounds of the arch are polished while the intervening spaces and the base chamfer are dressed with punch tooling. The basin of the font is circular (diam. 0.535m; D 0.22m) and the central drain hole has been filled in. There are the remains of three circular hinges on the N side of the top for a former cover. It probably dates to the 15th century. Pike (1989, 572-82; 597-9) includes this in an 'Ossory Group' of fonts. See attached photographs: KK013-023008-_01 N and W sides viewed from the NW KK013-023008-_02 N side KK013-023008-_03 S side KK013-023008-_04 E side KK013-023008-_05 Overview of top of font with scale, from S side Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 22 August 2022