England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Battlesden St Peter

The Parish

The parish of Battlesden lies in southwestern Bedfordshire close to the border with neighbouring Buckinghamshire. Battlesden sits about 3 miles southeast of the large village of Woburn. Of modern Battlesden there is very little to say, it is a small hamlet with cottages gathered along a lane which runs southwards from the A4012 road which runs from Woburn to Hockcliffe, to its west lies the current A5 which runs along the ancient Roman Road of Watling Street. It is probable that Battlesden parish was a closed parish, all land held by the lord of the manor, and access was restricted (the presence of the church away from the village and close to the hall is perhaps indicative) as a consequence no proper village grew up. The area today is almost totally dominated by arable agriculture with large fields and expanses of cereals. Battlesden sits at around 120 metres above sea level on the edge of a spur of the Bedfordshire Greensand Ridge, which is followed by the A4012. Most drainage in the parish is heading southwestwards to the Clipstone Brook, thence to the River Ouzel and the River Ouse eventually to reach the North Sea through the Wash. The parish covers a fairly typical acreage for a southern parish, it, however, only supported fewer than 180 parishioners. In Domesday times the land was held by three nobles, the parish supported a healthy 18 ploughs a clear sign of later depopulation.

The Church

St Peter's church sits at the very end of the driveable portion of Battlesden Avenue, the lane leading southwards and then northwestwards from the A4012. The church is on the edge of the grounds of the local manor house and its parkland. Like most churches the building shows pieces from differing eras. There are indication of 13th century work on the tower and Decorated work in the Chancel from the following century. A large window in the north aspect is dated to the early 16th century. The church is accessed by a grassy track from the parking area, the graveyard being enclosed in a wooden picket fence. Unfortunately there is currently on access to the northern side of the building, a determined fence preventing access to the west and south. This is rather restrictive of the photographic opportunities particularly in strong midday sunlight.