DERBYSHIRE FONTS. 57 



examples, namely, those of Youlgreave and Ashover. Our 

 county is but poorly supplied with specimens of great 

 archaeological interest, and this is very much more noticeable 

 when one visits Cornwall, and sees the splendid, richly 

 ornamented and shaped fonts which abound there. The few 

 specimens which do exist in Derbyshire have not been by 

 any means well treated. That at Taddington reposes in an 

 inn, where it has been for far too many years. The font 

 at Thorpe was exposed to the weather till the sculpture had 

 all peeled off under the destroying influence of our decidedly 

 changeable climate. The example at Crich has been " scraped " 

 and " restored " out of all likeness to an ancient font ; while 

 that at Ockbrook has had a large cavity hewn in its sides, 

 and now lies beneath the tower. The Bradbourne example 

 is now safely housed beneath the tower of the church, after 

 lying neglected and uncared for in the grounds of the Hall, 

 adjoining the churchyard, for which ill treatment it is none 

 the better. The font at North Wingfield has been rescued 

 from the degrading position in which Dr. Cox found it, i.e., a 

 washing basin for the school children. Youlgreave, as we have 

 seen, has had a very lucky escape from decay, if not from 

 total demolition, as has also the font at Tissington. The 

 one at Mellor would be none the worse for a little attention, 

 particularly the removal of the green old tap, which now forms 

 such an unsightly projection on one side. That at Hognaston 

 is made to look ridiculous by being perched on the top of 

 a slender column of three engaged shafts. A very curious 

 point about all these fonts is the absolute and entire absence 

 of the commonest ornaments of Norman art. There are no 

 examples of the chevron, billet, roller, star, or filleting on 

 any of the fonts I have described. Among ornaments of a 

 minor character which do appear the cable is not infrequent, 

 while among the larger type of designs the arcade is not 

 uncommon. The earlier types of fonts, as Tissington and 

 Mellor, are extremely good of their kind, but the later examples 

 show, on the whole, a sad falling off in interest. 



