ON DERBYSHIRE PLUMBERY, OR WORKINGS IN LEAD. 75 



the book. All that we can say of the figures is that they are 

 probably intended to give a general idea of apostles or Christian 

 missionaries. Above the arcade is a narrow cable moulding that 

 is wanting in several places. Below each figure are two well- 

 shaped kind of escallop shells with a central dot or pearl in each ; 

 these are separated by three curved lines of moulding below the 

 base of each shaft of the arcade. Below this again is a con- 

 tinuous band of moulding, the lines of which are cunningly 

 twined round into repeated fleur-de-lys. The whole treatment of 

 this lower work is most delicate, and must have produced a 

 graceful effect when fresh from the designer's hands. The date 

 of this lead work is undoubtedly late Norman. The dimensions 

 of the font are as follows :— Diameter, 23^ in.; depth, 14 in. ; 

 height of figures, 81 in. 



The Ashover font used to stand at the west end of the north 

 aisle of Ashover church, and a part was lost to sight by its being 

 placed against the wall. But, among other improvements recently 

 effected by the present rector, is the moving of this font to a far 

 more worthy position, just under the western archway into the 

 tower, which is now opened out. 



Although this is the only leaden font in Derbyshire, there is 

 another one in the South of England that has a striking link of 

 connection with Derbyshire stamped upon it. The church of 

 Parham, Sussex, possesses a singular leaden font, supposed to be 

 the only known example of fourteenth century date. It is 

 divided into compartments by perpendicular and horizontal panels 

 of oblong shape, each bearing the legend, " IHC NAZAR," in 

 Lombardic capitals. In the spaces between these bands are 

 small shields, bearing gironny within a bordure charged with 

 roundels, the arms of Peverell of Sussex. Andrew Peverell was 

 Knight of the Shire in 135!, and in many subsequent years; he 

 was probably the restorer of the church, and undoubtedly the 

 donor of the font. When seeking a design for the font of his 

 gift, what more likely than that his mind should revert to a 

 county that had been the cradle of the ancestors of his family, 



