England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Bulkworthy St Michael

The Parish

Bulkworthy was created as a parish during the period of this transcript; records beginning in 1829. Prior to that it was a chapelry within Buckland Brewer parish. The parish is located in northwestern Devon close to the border with neighbouring Cornwall. Bulkworthy is located about 7 miles southwest of the market town of Great Torrington, it is sited in narrow Devon lanes to the west of the A388 road which links the port of Bideford to the large village of Holsworthy. Bulkworthy sits on a narrow ridge high above the upper reaches of the Torridge river, here heading southeast before curving around to meet the sea at Bideford. There is not much of a settlement to Bulkworthy merely a few farms dotted around. Bulkworthy is sited at about 140 metres above sea level but land falls away to the south towards the Torridge and climbs almost to 200 metres to the northeast at Thorne Moor. This is pastoral landscape at its most typically Devon, hedged fields with small pastures with cattle dominant and much milk production. The parish which was created was quite small by Devon standards, it covered just over 800 acres and supported less than 200 parishioners. In Domesday times the land was held by one Ansger the Breton and supported just 2 ploughs,in those days sheep were the dominant animal in the pastures which are mentioned.

The Church

St Michael's church sits adjacent to the main lane (still remarkably narrow!) which runs through Bulkworthy. The church is quite small as befits the population size and consists of a combined nave and chancel with a south aisle all topped off with a jaunty bellcote at the western end. Much of the church dates from the extensive restoration of 1873, Pevsner hints at a 15th origin through reference to the odd window left behind but in reality this is largely a Victorian church. The graveyard sits behind a hedge topped stone wall and is accessed at the western end by some wooden gates. There are a few mature trees at the eastern end of the site but the views are uninterrupted making for an easy photographic opportunity one you have braved the narrow lane.