England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Heath All Saints

The Parish

The parish of Heath lies in northeastern Derbyshire not to far from the county's border with neighbouring Nottinghamshire. Heath is located roughly 5 miles southeast of the industrial town of Chesterfield and sits on the former route of the A617 road which links Chesterfield with Mansfield, that road being moved northwards in modern times. Heath village forms an "L" shape, the main west to east running road being the former A617 has many properties, including the parish church, lining it whilst a southern lane connects to the A6175 headed for North Wingfield. For much of its existence Heath was a simple farming community, roughly equal proportions of pastoral and arable methods in place. the parish, however, is underlain with coal measures and in the 19th century exploitation of these reserves lead to some growth and employment in the village, all mines are now closed. Modern developments abound, the A617, when rerouted, was upgraded to a fast dual-carriageway highway serving as access for both Chesterfield and Mansfield to the modern M1 motorway which passes through to the east of Heath, the two meeting in a major junction for the area. Heath is drained northwards by the River Doe Lea which makes its way to meet the Rother, continuing north to Rotherham the Don is met turning water eastwards through Doncaster to the Humber Estuary and to the North Sea. Heath is sited at around 150 metres above the sea on the highest ground for some distance. Heath parish covered just over 1,600 acres making it one of the smaller parishes in this area, that acreage would have supported a population of close to 400 parishioners. Whilst Heath has no Domesday entry, the manor of Owlcotes, a holding of Walter d'Aincourt resides within the parish, its assets of 11 ploughs backed by meadows & woodland are typical of a mid-sized rural farming manor.

The Church

All Saints' church stands at the eastern end of the village's main street where it forms a complex junction, a fork of lanes eastwards being chopped off by the motorway & dual-carriageway whilst the village continues southwards. Sadly the present church is not that in which these marriages took place it being a Victorian replacement for the medieval church that once stood here, it was completed in 1853. The style employed is that of the early 14th century Decorated era which maybe reflects the style of its predecessor. The church's stand-out feature is its slender spire complete with gables lucarnes and battlemented top. The lane outside the churchyard (Church Lane) opens into a rather broad area allowing ample space for on-street parking. The churchyard presents something of a challenge for the photographer, bordered with thick tree cover its compact size restricts viewpoints, these are further diminished by a further clump to the south of the church, some scouting is required to obtain the better views.