The font at Gayton is a composite medieval object whose present appearance reflects more than one phase of work. The bowl is fundamentally Norman in form: a heavy circular vessel with thick walls, a slightly tapering profile, and a marked simplicity of mass typical of the late 12th century. This underlying Romanesque character accords with the early fabric of the church.

Around the upper register, however, runs a dense band of intersecting arcades, each arch containing a small, neatly cusped head. This decorative feature cannot be Norman. Cusping is a distinctly Gothic innovation, appearing from the mid-13th century onward, and its presence here indicates a later campaign of re-carving or enhancement. It is therefore highly likely that the Gayton font began as a plain Norman bowl and was redecorated during the 13th or early 14th century, when other Gothic works were being undertaken in the church.

The octagonal shaft beneath the bowl is comparatively plain and may date from the same Gothic refurbishment or slightly later. The broad circular plinth on which the whole stands is post-medieval, introduced to stabilise and elevate the medieval structure.

Significance

The Gayton font is an excellent example of a Norman liturgical furnishing adapted to suit changing stylistic preferences. Its combination of Romanesque mass and Gothic detailing illustrates a common but often overlooked medieval practice: the reworking of earlier stonework rather than replacing it outright.