England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Latchford St James

The Parish

The parish of Latchford, created in 1777 from its mother parish of Grappenhall, is located in the extreme north of Cheshire forming a stretch of the county's border with neighbouring Lancashire. Latchford sits about 1 mile southeast of the Lancashire industrial town of Warrington, separated only by the River Mersey which here forms the boundary between the two counties, and sitting on the A5061 road lining the A50 to the centre of Warrington. Latchford today is merely a suburb of Warrington which straddles the two counties, a place of closely set housing, small shops & businesses and a little light industry. Latchford is drained westwards by the Mersey headed through the twin ports of Liverpool & Birkenhead into the Irish Sea. Latchford is sited at around sea level, the church of St James standing at a metre above that level, land rises gently away from the river reaching 80 metres within 2-3 miles. Around 1,000 acres of Grappenhall parish was assigned to Latchford within which a substantial population of almost 2,400 parishioners resided, most marriages and all marriages before 1833 took place at Grappenhall. Latchford is not mentioned in Domesday Book.

The Church

St James' church stands on the eastern side of the A5061, here named Wilderspool Causeway and a fast dual-carriageway too. Built between 1828 and 1830 to serve the new parish, the church replaced an unlicensed chapel from 1777. Built in a pretty red ashlar the church's western front, looming over the main road, is its most impressive feature, the church has a disappointingly narrow chancel almost apologetic to its eastern end. The road passing is incredibly busy and lacks any kind of parking, side streets are recommended but may entail a short walk.