| 12th Century Baptismal Font at Whitcombe, Dorset, England |
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| GENERAL INFORMATION | ||
| Patron Saint | Dedication unknown | |
| Location | Whitcombe, Dorset, England | |
| Font location in church | The the back of the nave against the south wall | |
| workshop | Probably a member of the Purbeck Marblers Guild | |
| Date/Century/Period | early 13th Century font | |
| Medium | Purbeck Marble bowl | |
| Drainage | Centre hole in bowl | |
| Date of On-site Visit | Saturday 3rd April 2004 | |
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FONT NOTES Font: of Purbeck marble, octagonal bowl, each face with two two centered arched panels: stem circular, with four detatched circular shafts of later date, on an octagonal base; early 13th century. Whitcombe was originaly part of a small monestry that belonged to Milton Abbey. This font, although smaller, is very similar to the early font from the Abbey that is now found in Church of Saint James at Milton Abbas. See also the font at Osmington This font is also in many respects to the Purbeck Marble fonts at nearby Martinstown and Stinsford |
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| REFERENCE Royal Commission on Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Vol 2 South East Part 2. MCMLXX | |||
| DESCRIPTION | DIMENSIONS | ||
| Font Shape | Octagonal | Total Height (without plinth or cover) | 85 cm |
| Basin Shape (outside) | Octagonal | Diameter of basin (including rim) | 80 cm |
| Basin Shape (inside) | round | Diameter of basin (not including rim) | 60 cm |
| Basin lining | lead | Width of rim | 10 cm |
| Base Shape | cylindrical central shaft, four corner shafts and moulded base on square plinth | Outside Height of Basin | 35 cm |
| Number of peices | 7 | Inside depth of Basin | 26 cm |
 View of Whitcombe church from the west |
 View of Whitcombe church from the south |
 View of the font from the door |
 View of the font from the rear of the nave |
 View of the front of the font looking south |
 View of the left side of the font |
 View of the right side of the font |
 View of interior of the font |
 Medieval wall painting - archading of seven bays with trefoiled and crocketed triangular heads in yellow ochre and red outline divided by shafts and caps in red enclosing faint traces of figure painting, early 14th century, with some fragments of later black letter inscription. Press here for larger picture
|  Medieval wall painting - St Christopher, nimbed and bearded, in red robe, skirt held in left hand and ragged staff in right, with the Child seated on his left shoulder wearing green robe and carrying orb, in background mermaid with comb and glass, 15th century. Traces of black-letter inscription. Press here for larger picture  The Alter and Pulpit - 
Press here for larger picture |
| LINKS |
| Dorset Historic Churches Trust |
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