England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Dawlish St Gregory

The Parish

The parish of Dawlish lies on Devon's eastern coast forming a substantial stretch of that coast immediately south of the estuary of the River Exe. Dawlish is located about 10 miles south of the city of Exeter and 8 miles north of the seaside resort of Torquay. Dawlish is situated on the A379 road which follows the coastline between the two above mentioned places. Formerly a sleepy coastal fishing village Dawlish was sprung into popularity by the craze for sea bathing and grew substantially during the period of this transcript into one of Devon's principal seaside resorts. The coming of the railway helped that process, its dramatic course making it, in itself, a popular journey as it follows the edge of the sea, at the back of Dawlish's beach and through tunnels in the sea cliffs. This route, part of the London to Plymouth line, has caused major issues with the sea wreaking revenge by washing away stretches of the line in recent times. Today Dawlish is popular with the beach visitor, an important way-station on the South West way and home to a major wildlife reserve in Dawlish warren at the mouth of the Exe. Dawlish is drained by one of its notable features, Dawlish water which forms a centrepiece to the attractive gardens along its bank, a major promenading feature of the town. Dawlish is sited at sea level, but recent developments rise up the valley sides to both north & south reaching almost 90 metres above the sea. Dawlish parish was fairly large, it covered just over 5,000 acres and would have grown during the period of this transcript to a population of over 3,100 parishioners. In Domesday times Dawlish was held by the Bishop of Exeter, a relatively medium sized place it could offer an impressive 26 ploughs as well as meadows, pastures & woodland.

The Church

St Gregory's church lies almost 3/4 of a mile from Dawlish's sea front up the valley of Dawlish water almost to the site of Luscombe Castle. The church sits behind properties to the west of the junction of Church Street & Barton Road. One is immediately drawn to the ornate western red sandstone tower & indeed this is the oldest remaining portion of the building. The tower is in the Perpendicular style of the late 14th or early 15th centuries. All of the remainder of the church was rebuilt in two 19th century campaigns. The body of the church was completely rebuilt in 1824 whilst a further rebuilding in 1874 removed much of that work whilst rebuilding chancel & transepts, the earlier rebuild had added ornate pinnacles & battlements to the nave which are now gone. Work continued up into the late 20th century albeit internally when a "narthex" internal division with glass screen was added in 1984. A short stub of lane leads west from the junction towards the church with some parking, other parking is at the southern end of the site where a pathway leads through to the church. The churchyard is relatively open with few restrictions to photographic angles.