England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Chesham St Mary

The Parish

The parish of Chesham lies in southeastern Buckinghamshire, indeed it forms part of the border with neighbouring Hertfordshire. Chesham is a substantial market town lying within the Chiltern Hills and sited about 3 miles north of its nearest neighbour Amersham. Chesham is situated on the A416 road which links Amersham with the Hertfordshire market town of Berkhamsted. Chesham's market was granted in the year 1257 and still runs today as an important centre for the surrounding Chilterns district. Chesham has grown over the years from a just 3 streets by the crossing of the River Chess into a significant commuter town for London, the growth speeded by the construction of the London Underground from the city out into leafy Buckinghamshire. The area around Chesham would have largely been arable but the extensive woodlands of the Chilterns also saw much business in the manufacture of wooden ware. Chesham was also an important centre for lace & straw plait as well as manufacture of paper from mills on the banks of the Chess. The Chess drains southeastwards through the town and eventually the Coln at Rickmansworth before reaching the North Sea through the Thames. The heart of Chesham is sited at around 100 metres above the sea but the more modern developments which have spread away from that centre can be 50 metres higher. The Chilterns which surround are boldly undulating with deeply cut, and often dry, valleys through the chalklands. Chesham parish is one of the largest in Buckinghamshire, it covered over 12,600 acres and supported a population of almost 5,600 parishioners only half of whom where resident within the town itself. In Domesday times Chesham was equally as prosperous, so much so that it was shared between 4 landholders (Hugh of Bolbec, Alsi of Bromham, Bishop Odo of Bayeux & Turstin Mantle). The parish could boast 28 ploughs as well as extensive meadows & woodland and 4 mills.

The Church

St Mary's church sits on the western side of the crossing of the River Chess tucked away down a narrow cobbled lane off the Great Missenden road. The church has the ancient cruciform layout with a central tower (possessing battlements and a recessed lead spire). The church was extensively restored in 1869 and Pevsner laments the impact of that restoration claiming the church appears "all 19th century looking". However he then goes on to detail many features from the cusp of Decorated & Perpendicular styles which indicate an origin for the building within the 14th century. Internally other features suggest the building has 13th and even 12th century features suggesting a long gestation or reuse of earlier materials. The church is accessed along cobbled Church Street which runs for 100 metres or so before terminating at the extensive churchyard with its formal metal gates. There are many trees within the churchyard so photography is restricted in the viewing angles for the building.