England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
St Ishmael

The Parish

The parish of St Ishmael lies in southern Carmarthenshire, indeed it forms a substantial part of the county's coastline with the outer Bristol Channel. St Ishmael is located about 9 miles south of the county town of Carmarthen and sits on the estuary of the Afon Tywi. St Ishmael has no significant roads nearby the closest being the A484 (Carmarthen to Kidwelly) road which lies some 3 or 4 miles east. The parish is named after the hamlet of St Ishmael, in which sits the church, but this is not today's main settlement that being Ferryside which lies 2 miles north. Modern development has not escaped the area as the Carmarthen to Swansea rail line runs right along the Tywi's foreshore through this parish. The estuary is a rich source of food and the local shell fishery (cockles & mussels) would have supplemented the standard farming economy, mainly arable with barley something of a local speciality. As a coastal settlement numerous small streams and brooks drain into the nearby Tywi. Much of the parish is obviously at sea level but land rises sharply inland reaching a local top of 132 metres within a half mile. St Ishmael parish was extensive, as are many in this county, covering just over 3,300 acres the wider parish would have supported a population of almost 900 parishioners. Like most of Wales St Ishmael is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

St Ismael's church (today the Welsh name is mostly rendered Isfael) sits almost on the banks of the Tywi, separated from the waves by the coastal lane and the rail line. The church is described by Pevsner as a "delightful jumble" and it certainly presents a bit of a poser as to how best to record it photographically. Consisting of nave & chancel augmented by a southern transept & squint and also the unusually place southern tower sitting above a porch, a very curious arrangement indeed. Pevsner is hesitant to give an early date but the nave & chancel are almost certainly pre-14th century with transept of the 14th and northern aisle from the 15th century. All was extremely "harshly restored" in the 1850s by the Victorians to arrive at today's church. The coastal lane is narrow but is widened to provide a single parking space by the church, the site sits elevated above the road on a steeply sloping site, the reason for the unconventional placing of the tower. Three steps climb to the gates of the churchyard which is open and with no obstacles for photography.