England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Poughill St Olaf

The Parish

The parish of Poughill is one of the most northerly in Cornwall and forms also a stretch of the county's Irish Sea coastline. Poughill is located about a mile northwest of the small town of Stratton and a little less than a mile west of the A39 road which connects Stratton through to Bideford in Devon. Poughill is a small village seated around a T-junction of lanes at the head of a steep valley headed for the coast. The orientation of the lane is such that Poughill forms an opened up L-shape, the base being the original village whilst the stem holds a modern development. The local area is deeply incised with many very steep slopes which do not readily lend themselves to arable farming, consequently pastures dominate. As the village is only a mile from the sea it also functions as a bathing resort, sharing the northern edges of Bude and with its own car park and beach at Northcott Mouth. That beach is a welcome relief to hikers on the South West Way National Trail as it marks the end of the switchback and arduous stretch from Hartland, perhaps the toughest stretch of the whole path. Poughill has its own little steep side valley with a stream racing the short distance to the Irish Sea at Crooklets Beach. Poughill is sited at around 60 metres above the sea but the parish encompasses land from sea level to 153 metres a couple of miles to the north of the village. Covering a little over 1,700 acres Poughill parish was typically sized for the area, it would have supported a population of close to 450 parishioners. In Domesday times Poughill was held by Count Robert of Mortain and was a modest holding offering 5 ploughs, some large meadows and a few patches of woodland.

The Church

St Olaf's church sits at the main junction of lanes in the village on the northern side of Poughill Road. There is evidence from scars remaining on the fabric that the church began life in a cruciform layout and probably was first built during the 13th century although nothing of that remains bar the scars which mark its passing. Relaying out the church was a lengthy affair carried out in stages through the 14th & 15th centuries before finally being completed in the 16th. A narrow northern aisle was the first to be added in the late 14th century, an equivalent southern aisle was begun but set aside for later with only the bases of the piers installed. During the 15th century the formidable western tower was added, presumably replacing a former crossing tower, the western tower is of 3 stages and comes with northeastern stair-turret. At a similar time the southern porch was added with its unconventional plank door and the southern aisle work resurrected and completed. The final act of modification took place in the 3rd decade of the 16th century when the northern chantry chapel was added. Pevsner documents 3 phases of restoration of 1873, 1891 and 1929 without giving any details of the work or impacts. Outside the churchyard is a very welcome layby, the lanes hereabouts are rather narrow, allowing a handful of cars to safely park. A neat lychgate grants entry to the churchyard which is relatively free of unavoidable obstacles leaving a choice of sight-lines for the photographer.