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THE LATE-NORMAN FONT AT YOULGREAVE. 



By G. le Blanc Smith. 



|N the Church of All Saints, Youlgreave, which has 



been described as " a model of a restored church," 



there is a relic of ecclesiastical art which is 



absolutely unique. It is a font having very many 



curious and interesting features, as well as a curious and 



interesting history. 



Its history is like that of many another such — one of gross 

 neglect in former days, indeed one that is unhappily only too 

 common. The neighbouring church of Elton formerly 

 sheltered this fine old piece of work, but at the beginning of 

 the nineteenth century, it was decided to destroy and rebuild the 

 fabric, so the font was evicted, and for many years lay, to the 

 disgrace to its former custodians, in the churchyard, exposed to 

 all the inclemency of the weather. However, in 1833, Mr. 

 Pidcock, the then vicar of Youlgreave,* removed it for the 

 purpose of ornamenting his vicarage garden, in which un- 

 dignified position it remained until the advent of the next 

 vicar, Mr. Wilmot, who in 1838 once more placed it under 

 shelter in its present position, on the south side of the nave, 

 at the west end of the south aisle. 



The inhabitants of Elton, now recognizing their folly in 

 letting such a treasure pass out of their hands, tried their utmost 



* Youlgreave is the Mother Church to Elton. 



