The Font at St. Mary's, Burnham Deepdale


The carvings in the stone of the impressive square Norman font in St. Mary's Church, Burnham Deepdale, Norfolk show the changing types of labour - and rest - throughout the months of the farming calendar. The months run anti-clockwise so that one walks around it with the sun and not against it which would be 'widdershins' and against nature - the devil would be waiting!


The Norman Font - St. Mary's, Burnham Deepdale

April
Pruning in April
Pruning

March
Digging in March
Digging

February
Warming feet in February
Warming feet

January
Drinking in January
Drinking

August
Sheaf binding in August
Sheaf binding

July
Scything in July
Scything

June
Clearing Weeds in June
Clearing weeds

May
Rogationtide in May
Rogationtide

December
Feasting in December
Feasting

November
Slaughtering pig in November
Slaughtering pig

October
Grinding corn in October
Grinding corn

September
Threshing in September
Threshing