England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Over St Chad

The Parish

The parish of Over is located in central Cheshire about 5 miles south of the market town of Northwich and 3 miles west of the town of Middlewich. Over, which includes the town of Winsford, sits on the busy A54 road which connects Middlewich with Chester. The main habitations of the parish are the village of Over, which has expanded greatly in recent times and the town of Winsford across the River Weaver on its eastern bank; the rest of the parish extended to the agricultural areas to the southwest of these two places. Over qualifies as a market town, a charter given by Edward 1st grants that right. The area's employment is, however, dominated by the salt industry and many saline pits dominate the river valley. The main land use other than that being pastoral agriculture. Victorian communications infrastructure added to the importance of the area, the major railway junction of Crewe being only a few miles to the south, the canals also came to the Weaver valley and the Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union canal also passed through the parish. The Weaver drains to the north to reach the Mersey and then the Irish Sea. Over is sited at roughly 60 metres above sea level, some 40 metres above the river level, land falling away to the east. Over parish is, like many Cheshire parishes, rather complex; it consists of two distinct portions separated by a detached portion of neighbouring Whitegate. The parish was typically large covering well over 3,000 acres in its two portions, the parish would have supported over 3,000 parishioners. In Domesday times Over was a tiny place, it was held by Earl Hugh of Chester and could support only a single plough.

The Church

St Chad's church is located on the southern side of the town of Over surmounting Church Hill. The church has had several makeovers but indications are that it originated in the Decorated period of 13th/14th centuries. Very little of that period survives, however, much was replaced in the mid 16th century notably the western tower and two-storey porch. The main body of the church received substantial changes in the early 20th century and was lengthened to its present 9 bays to accommodate the area's growing population. There is much use of the local red sandstone throughout making an attractive sight in evening sunshine. The B5074 road heads southwards from the centre of Over and Church Road turns left (eastwards) off this to end at the small parking area outside the churchyard, a wooden fence screens the churchyard and entry is by a metalled path. Once inside there are few restrictions other than a group of trees to the southwest of the tower.