England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Shillington All Saints

The Parish

The parish of Shillington lies in the extreme southeast of Bedfordshire forming an extensive stretch of the border with neighbouring Hertfordshire. Shillington is located roughly 6 miles northwest of the Hertfordshire town of Hitchin and sits within an area devoid of major numbered roads, the closest such roads, the A6 to the west running from Luton to Bedford and the A600 from Hitchin to Bedford lie over 3 miles to west and east respectively. Shillington is a complex village consisting not only of Shillington village itself but several "Ends" that make up a roughly oval shape with a southern tail, From north to south there are Bury End, Upton End, Hillfoot End, Hanscombe End and Aspley End, all little hamlets in themselves. Despite sitting upon the heavy clay soils of the Jurassic beds, Shillington was an arable farming parish with cereals forming the main crop. Shillington is drained northwards by the infant River Ivel, at nearby Shefford this is joined by the Flit and the pair eventually meet the Great Ouse at Tempsford before crossing Fenland to reach the North Sea through The Wash & the port of King's Lynn. Shillington is sited at around 50 to 60 metres above the sea in gently rolling countryside where local high points of just over 80 metres are found to the northwest of the village. Shillington parish was one of the largest in its county at just over 5,000 acres it was more typical of a northern upland parish than a rural southern arable one, within that acreage it would have supported a population of close to 1,300 parishioners. Already by Domesday times Shillington was a substantial settlement with a population large enough to place it amongst the top 20% of settlements by population, held by Ramsey Abbey its assets were, however, a little more modest with 20 ploughs as principal assets backed by the usual meadows & woodland.

The Church

All Saints' church has an unenviable position sitting on a hilltop to the west of Shillington with a drop to the Ivel below and commanding views too. The church, however, is one which has met with a series of disasters since initial completion requiring a series of rebuilding events. Documentary evidence details a consecration date prior to 1333 as repairs were already deemed necessary by that date, the early 14th century style, Decorated, represented by the chancel arch, the east window and the settings for the aisle windows. The remainder of original material dates from the late 14th century and shows the Perpendicular style of that period best shown in the western tower , both doorways and porch. It is believed the initial build was completed within the term of Matthew Assheton, rector from 1349 to 1400 which ties in well with the styling. The first disaster struck in 1595 when part of the church collapsed and was rebuilt, in 1701 the western tower similarly collapsed and 40 years elapsed with it in a partially ruinous state before rebuilding. These disasters were followed by typical Victorian restoration with a major campaign between 1881 & 1885 which saw a significant refresh and removal of some inappropriate work from earlier times. Church Street leads westwards from the village centre and has space for a few careful parkers, it narrows significantly before the entrance, however. The church stands proud on its high mound, the whole banked to the roadside and supported behind a substantial local stone wall, a stiff climb rewards with a churchyard devoid of obstacles for the photographer.