A HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



Raunds.i — The font has an approximately cylindrical bowl, which is quite plain except 

 for a ram's head sculptured in relief on one side. This feature is unique as far as fonts are 

 concerned, although rams' heads are occasionally used in the decoration of Norman corbel-tables. 

 It is doubtful whether the sculpture at Raunds has any special symbolical meaning. 



Wansford." — The font has a cylindrical bowl, ornamented round the top with a narrow 

 band of foliage, and having sculptured below an arcade of thirteen round-headed arches enclosing 

 the following subjects : — (i) A conventional tree, perhaps intended for the Tree of Life ; (2 and 3) 

 The Baptism of Christ ;3 (4) A vine scroll ; (5) A man standing with his left hand upraised, palm 

 outwards ; (6) A man standing with the right hand upraised, and holding a book in the left ; 

 (7 and 8) A combat between two men armed with clubs and shields,* round at the top and pointed 

 at the bottom ; (9) Foliage partially defaced ; (10) Saint with nimbus round the head, standing 

 holding a book in the right hand, and the forefinger of the left pointing upwards; (ll) Man 

 standing holding a book in the left hand; (12) Saint with nimbus round the head, standing with 

 hands outstretched in the attitude of preaching ; (13) Man holding a book against his breast with 

 the left hand. 



Barton Seagrave.* — The tympanum is over the north doorway of the nave, and is built up of 

 eight separate stones in two horizontal rows one above the other. The lower row consists of three 

 stones forming the lintel, the middle stone having notched joints on each side to prevent its falling 

 out. 



On this stone is sculptured the head of a man with a beard, and on the stones on each side 

 a beast with a long jaw, that on the left holding a human head in its mouth.* On the two stones 

 of the upper row on the left are sculptured the heads of goats, and on the three remaining stones 

 on the right a geometrical star pattern. 



Castor. — There are two tympana in the church : one built into the gable wall of the porch, 

 sculptured with a figure of Christ in Majesty giving the benediction, and the other bearing the 

 following inscription : — ^ 



xv° KL 

 MAI DEDICA 

 TIO HVI ECLE 



A D M°cxxini 



Pitsford.* — The tympanum is over the south doorway, having been moved from its original 

 position in the south wall of the nave when the new aisle was added some years ago. As at Castor, 

 the figure-sculpture is enclosed within an ornamental frame, consisting here of a cable moulding 

 with rectangular blocks at regular intervals, having nine or more small circular bosses projecting 

 from each. The subject of the sculpture is a contest between a man and a huge beast. It may 

 be observed in passing how skilful the early designers were in arranging all the accessories of the 

 scenes they depicted so as to fill up the whole available space. The beast on the Pitsford 

 tympanum is probably intended for a lion. It occupies a prominent position on the left. The 

 tail, which is ornamented with a row of pellets along the centre, is bent between the two hind legs 

 and behind the body, the foliated termination appearing above the back. This foliated termination 

 is probably nothing more than an artistic method of treating the tuft of hair which is so conspicuous 

 a feature at the end of a lion's tail. Afterwards it was applied also to beasts that were not intended 

 for lions. The mane of the lion is indicated in a conventional way by rows of scale-like markings, 

 and his mouth is armed with formidable-looking teeth. Below the hind-quarters of the lion, at the 

 left-hand corner of the tympanum, is a winged dragon with two fore-feet only, and a tail forming 

 interlaced work, ornamented with a row of pellets along the centre. Underneath the fore-paws 

 of the lion is another winged dragon with a head behind as well as in front, unless perhaps the 

 artist intended to represent two separate dragons. Between the dragons, and passing behind the 

 middle of the body of the lion, is a conical object placed vertically, perhaps a tree. It is covered 

 with horizontal rows of scales, and has three round bosses at the base. In front of the lion stands 

 a man holding a sword or large knife in his left hand, whilst with the right he grasps the upper jaw 



1 Engraved in Parker's Churches of Northamptonshire, 62. 



' Engraved in Simpson's Baptismal Fonts and the Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc, xlii. 238. 



5 For other examples, see J. R. Allen, Early Christian Symbolism, 286. 



* This subject occurs on the west capital of the south tower arch of Castor, near Peterborough, and also 

 on one of the tiles from Chertsey Abbey. 



' Engraved in Parker's Churches of Northamptonshire, 150 ; C. E. Kejser, Norman Tympana and Lintels, 

 Fig. 67. 



* For other examples of this subject, see J. R. Allen, Early Christian Symbolism, 372. 



7 Rickman, Gothic Architecture, 93. C. E. Keyser, Norman Tympana and Lintels, xxvi. 



8 Engraved in Baker's Hist, of N orthamptonshire ; Assoc. Archit. See. Rep. xx. ; C. E. Keyser, Norman 

 Tympana and Lintels, Fig. 152. 



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