England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Cambridge St Benedict

The Parish

The city of Cambridge lies in the south central area of its county about 50 miles north of the city of London. Cambridge sits at the junction of the A14 (east coast ports to the Midlands) and A10 (London to King's Lynn) roads. As its name suggests Cambridge grew up at the crossing of the River Cam. Cambridge undoubtedly has a Saxon origin but was repeated sacked by invading Danes, it wasn't until post Norman conquest that the city became established, this was further enhanced by the establishment of the University in the 13th century. It is, of course, famous as one of the highest quality universities in the world today. Besides the university and associated infrastructure Cambridge flourished as a market for the rich agricultural lands of the east of England and in particular the Fens to its north. Today Cambridge is still relatively small but rapidly growing as high-tech industries spin-off and move to the city to be close to its academic facilities. There are excellent communications by road (M11) and rail to the capital less then an hour to the south. The medieval centre of Cambridge is divided into 14 parishes each covering no ore than a few acres, St Benedict sits at the heart of the city covering a tiny area immediately east of the main north to south thoroughfare of Trumpington Street & King's Parade, a separate detached area contained the area of today's Addenbrooke's Hospital. The River Cam, scene of punting and parties, drains the city to the north, reaching the North Sea through the Great Ouse and the port of King's Lynn. Cambridge is low lying, much of the centre sits below 10 metres above the sea St Benedict parish at almost exactly 10 metres, the surrounding area is also flat and low lying for many miles. St Benedict parish was middling sized in terms of its population for one of the inner city parishes holding around 1,000 parishioners within its tiny acreage. In Domesday times the majority of Cambridge was held by the King with a small parcel in the hands of Count Alan of Brittany, it was a wealthy place but not specifically enumerated.

The Church

St Benedict's church, often shortened to St Bene't, sits on the southern side of St Bene't's Street in the heart of central Cambridge. Pevsner identifies it as the oldest church within not only the city but the whole of Cambridgeshire citing traces of Anglo-Saxon, pre-Conquest, fabric in not only the tower, the main portion, but also in parts of the nave & chancel. Dating such early evidence is difficult but he tentatively places the earliest parts as falling between 1000 & 1050. The tower, itself, shows the characteristic long-and-short work of its quoins and the bell-openings are also original Saxon work too, albeit the round-headed opening accompanying them are late 16th century. Both nave and chancel show signs of rebuilding from the 13th century in the Early English Gothic period with deeply splayed lancet windows characteristic of that period. In the late Perpendicular period, probably early 15th century, the nave roof was replaced and a typical clerestory inserted to improve internal lighting. There was undoubtedly some work done during the Victorian period, Pevsner indicates most of work falling in 1853 & 1872 to arrive at today's church. This church has a distinct urban setting in the tight and cramped streets of central Cambridge, it is definitely one to approach on foot having located parking in one of the city car parks. A tightly enclosed site with little ability to retreat enough to adequately encompass the building leaves just the angles available from St Bene't's Street to the photographer.