The Font

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St. Peter's Church Draycott, Somerset

The Font The stone font by William Burges is elaborately designed in Gothic Revival style. It was not originally intended for St. Peter's, but probably for St. James', Winscombe, where the rector John Augustus Yatman (of Winscombe Hall) was a patron of several of Burges' works locally. It was almost certainly executed by a London stonemason, and the original price was Ł36, with Ł5 extra for the top and for carriage (more on provenance).
Font viewed from nave more views

The font is square in shape and measures 85 cm x 85 cm on plan x 100 cm in height overall. It comprises cream coloured fine grained stone (probably Caen) cap and base units separated by a 50 cm diameter polished Purbeck Marble column 20 cm high. The base is 22 cm high including a 10 cm high deeply moulded circular base to the column and has carved leaves at the corners. The cap is 44 cm high overall and comprises a deeply moulded circular cornice 14 cm high rising from the granite column to support the flat slab top which is 30 cm high. Each corner underneath the slab is decorated with carved flowers and leaves. Each of the four sides of the top has a deeply incised central panel 38 cm x 24 cm x 10 cm deep featuring carved figures depicting the four ages of man, which are labelled INFANTIA, ADOLESCENTIA, VIRILITAS and SENEATUS. The ends of each side of the top are finished with florets in a grid pattern. The Font bowl is 56 cm in diameter x 34 cm deep. It has an outlet in the bottom for drainage and an oak cover with iron ring lifting handle. The Font is dated MDCCCLX in the INFANT recess.