England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
St Minver St Menefreda

The Parish

The parish of St Minver lies almost halfway along Cornwall's northern Atlantic coastline and is located roughly 5 miles northwest of the market town of Wadebridge. The village of St Minver lies about a half mile west of the B3314 which runs northwards from Wadebridge forming the main numbered road along this stretch of coast although it always keeps well clear of the deeply incised coast itself. Whilst St Minver gives its name to the parish it is by no means the largest settlement within the wider parish. St Minver is a small and compact crossroads village sitting on some of the highest ground whilst the main settlement is the coastal port of Rock formerly a small settlement grouped around its harbour it has nowadays expanded inland along its valley almost as far as St Minver, itself. In addition to these "older" settlements are the modern coastal communities of Polzeath and Trebetherick where modern coastal properties dominate the former hamlets. The income of the parish was varied, underpinning came from arable farming, here cereals were quite important despite the wet maritime climate, mining of local copper ores had occurred but soon died out whilst the coast provided both in terms of fishing and also the value added by a port in shipping goods both inward and out. Today Rock is very much a tourism destination, sitting across the estuary of the Camel from "foodie" destination Padstow whilst the remainder of the coast is followed by the South West Coastal National Trail bringing hikers to the area in addition to "beach tourists". The eastern part of the parish is drained by the small River Amble which meets the Camel before turning back westwards to the Irish Sea, the western part has many small streams each making their way to the Atlantic and contributing to the strongly undulating nature of the coast with its deep combes interspersed by tall cliffs. St Minver village is sited at around 70 metres above the sea, the coastal communities obviously are at sea level with Rock's built area rising inland to around 40 metres. Local high spots are rarely significantly higher than is St Minver. St Minver parish was extensive, covering around 6,300 acres within which it would have supported a population of around 1,150 parishioners. St Minver is not mentioned in Domesday Book but the smaller manor of Middle & Lower Chapel, a holding of Count Robert of Mortain, was mentioned, its assets were, however, meagre merely a single plough and a small acreage of pasture.

The Church

St Menefreda's church, the dedication refers to one of the many, rumour has it 24, children of the Welsh King Brychan of the 5th century, sits in the southwestern quadrant of the village of St Minver set back behind fronting properties from the main crossroads. Whilst the church has its origins in early medieval times very little remains of the earliest periods, a few fragments of masonry in the northern walls of the northern aisle and in the chancel have been tentatively assigned to the 12th century and Norman Romanesque era of style. Of more certain age is the northern arcade which shows thick, octagonal piers with plain capitals of the Early English Gothic era of the 13th century. Much else dates from the 15th century and is Perpendicular in style well seen in the 7-bay southern aisle, the wagon-style roofing in the porch is also of this period. The church's principal feature is the tower complete with spire, a real rarity in its county. Both the tower and spire were rebuilt during the substantial Victorian restoration of the early 1870s when not only this building work was carried out but the remainder was also refreshed. Parking is a tricky prospect in the narrow streets of St Minver but is possible outside the narrow alleyway that leads between properties to the church, alternatively one may approach from the lane leading to Polzeath where a large extension of the churchyard is fronted by a lychgate. The church, itself is extremely constrained from the south by large trees making only the less favoured northern aspects available and making for a tricky subject especially in a sunny day.