Font (present location)

The National Monuments Service's description

According to Clyne (2007, 157) this medieval baptismal font (see original location KK027-029020-) almost certainly came from the parish church (KK027-029009-) at Kells Priory. In the 19th century the font was removed from the disused post-medieval parish church, going first to the Cathedral in Kilkenny, and is currently in St Mary's C of I church, Inistioge (Birthistle 1969, 36-7; Clyne 2007, 157; Pike 1989, 582).
The font is described by Waterman (1970, 69) as being of Dundry oolite with a square, cushion-shaped bowl (ext. dims. H 0.41m; 0.68m²), with ‘the lower angles rounded off to engage with the circular steam, which rests on a square base. The sides of the bowl have been recut with Romanesque-style ornament and the stem, which is doubtfully original, is embellished with rope mouldings’. A 19th-century illustration of the font and accompanying description notes that carving was confined to one angle and the stem (H 0.39m) has no rope moulding (Anon. 1864-6, vol. 8, 491-2). Birthistle (1969, 36), notes that, ‘At the insistence of the Rev. J. Graves, it [the font] was presented by the then Rector, Mr. Darby, to the Cathedral, Kilkenny. Only one side of the bowl was ornamented. Possibly it had been intended to stand in close into an angle. When the stone-cutters were working at the restoration of the Cathedral Mr. Graves had them decorate the other sides’. The carving consists of low-relief foliage decoration (Clyne 2007, 157). The inner surface of the bowl was originally lined with lead and the remains of hinges and a hasp indicate that it had a cover (ibid. 492). The square base (H 0.25m; 0.61m²) has plain sides and each corner has a carved motif, possibly botanical, one of which is original (ibid. 158).
Clyne (ibid.) suggests that the font, ‘was acquired for Kells parish church in the late twelfth, or more likely the thirteenth century. It possibly indicates a connection with William Marshal, as suggested by Waterman [1970, 73], and may have been a gift from him or from Geoffrey FitzRobert, his seneschal in Leinster’.

See attached:
KK032-017007-_01 Photograph from Clyne 2007, 157.

Reference:
Birthistle, D. 1969 Inistioge. Old Kilkenny Review 21, 31-47.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 9 May 2023

References

Waterman, D.M. 1970 Somersetshire and other foreign building stone in Ireland, c. 1175-1400. Ulster Journal of Archaeology, vol. 33, 63-75.

Pike, H.K.J. 1989 Medieval fonts. Old Kilkenny Review 4, no. 1, 572-82, 597-8.

Clyne, M. 2007 Kells Priory, Co. Kilkenny: archaeological excavations by T. Fanning & M. Clyne. Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Dublin.