England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
West Hallam St Wilfrid

The Parish

The parish of West Hallam lies in southeastern Derbyshire not too far from its border with neighbouring Nottinghamshire. West Hallam is located roughly 7 miles northeast of the county town of Derby and sits on and mostly south of the A609 road which links Ilkeston with Belper. West Hallam is a village that has grown significantly and also changed over time, the small original village was largely rebuilt by the lord of the manor, Francis Newdigate, to create an estate village around the church and almost three quarters of a mile south of the A609. The exploitation of the local coal seams, however, together with modern developments have since expanded the village until it now butts up against the A609 forming a rough oblong almost a mile from east to west. Originally predominantly a pastoral farming settlement, coal mining together with the traditional industries of this area, stocking weaving & lace, brought industrialisation to the village. Today the mines are closed but West Hallam now has a function as a dormitory commuting settlement for its larger near neighbours. Modern developments, in the form of railway lines connecting Ilkeston to Belper and to Derby have come and gone with the exploitation of the coal and are now largely dismantled. West Hallam is drained southeastwards by small brooks to meet the River Erewash which heads south until the Trent is met, a long journey follows to reach the North Sea through the Humber Estuary. West Hallam is sited at around 100 metres above the sea in gently rolling countryside that rises to the northwest to around 130 metres within a couple of miles. West Hallam parish was fairly typically sized for the more lowland portions of Derbyshire, covering close to 1,300 acres it would have supported a population of around 650 parishioners. In Domesday times West Hallam was altogether less significant, a holding of Ralph de Buron it could muster merely 3 ploughs together with the usual meadows & woodland.

The Church

St Wilfrid's church sits within "The Village", the older estate village created by Newdigate, and is tucked away behind properties and the village hall. The church is largely a product of both the 14th century and subsequent Victorian rebuilding. The earliest parts, and early 14th century Decorated style, are represented in the chancel by the chancel arch and eastern window. The later parts of the original build are from the latter half of the same century and in a Perpendicular style, the sturdy western tower built upon an early base is of this style as is the clerestory which would have been added to improve internal lighting. The arcades gave Pevsner a few problems as the northern is of indeterminate date whilst the southern is typically Perpendicular. The substantial Victorian rebuild, it went further than being a restoration, saw both the southern aisle and both southern and eastern walls of the chancel completely rebuilt, this work took place in the mid 1850s. This is a church to approach on foot after parking on the main village street, the entrance with its wooden gates sits to the west of the war memorial and one follows a pathway through to a churchyard with no obstacles for the photographer.