The _Tournai_ group of black marble or basalt with thick central pedestal and four corner shafts, of which that at Winchester is the best, are described under Lincoln, in Chap. XIX. This form of support is pretty general through the thirteenth century, often with much massive carving and ornamentation on bowl and shafts, until the shafts developed, in some cases, into an open arcade round the central pillar, as best seen at _Barnack_, Northants. The tallest fonts and finest in design are of the fifteenth century, and are mostly octagonal pedestal fonts and frequently mounted on steps as in the churches of the Marsh near Boston, _e.g._, _Benington_ and _Leverton_. Some bowls are found with seven panels as at _Hundleby_, six as at _Ewerby_, _Heckington_ and _Sleaford_, nine as at _Orleton_, in Herefordshire, and at _Bigby_, in Lincolnshire, thus giving eight panels for figures, and allowing one to be placed against a wall or pillar; and ten, twelve, fourteen, and sixteen are not unknown. In our own county we have mentioned the font in nearly every case when describing a church, and will only now recall a few instances of the best. In addition to the _Tournai_ font at _Thornton Curtis_ and that of lead at _Barnetby_, the finest specimens of Early English will be found at _Thorpe St. Peter’s_ near Wainfleet—a very chaste design; the supporting shafts are gone, but the capitals show heads of bishop, king, and knight, and a knot of flowers supporting the bowl; and at _Weston_, near Spalding, where is one of singularly graceful form, standing on steps with a broad platform for the priest. At _Thurlby_, near Bourne, is a tub of Barnack stone which has pilasters all round it, and curious carved work dividing the panels, the whole being set on four square stone legs. Of Decorated fonts, _Ewerby_ is remarkable; hexagonal, with sides going straight down from the bowl, each panel representing a window with tracery, tending in design to Perpendicular, so that it probably dates from the end of the fourteenth century. The windows are filled with diaper work, and surrounded by a border of quatre-foils and flowing foliage. Other good Decorated fonts are at _Strubby_ and _Maltby-le-Marsh_ and _Huttoft_, all near Alford. The Perpendicular period is best seen at _Covenham St. Mary_, _North Somercotes_, _Bourne_, _Pinchbeck_, _Leverton_, and _Benington_. It is on the panels of the handsome fifteenth century fonts that the seven sacraments are carved, leaving one panel for any appropriate subject, and these panels are often real pictures of the methods of the time, and form most valuable records; the pedestal usually has its panels filled with Apostolic figures. [Sidenote: EAST ANGLIAN FONTS]