England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
South Huish St Andrew

The Parish

The parish of South Huish lies in the extreme south of Devon forming a stretch of the English Channel coastline, it sits roughly 4 miles south west of the town of Kingsbridge. South Huish is located around a mile west of the A381 road which links Kingsbridge with Salcombe. There is very little to modern day South Huish, a small aggregation of farms and cottages gathered around the former church. Such was the small size and close proximity of Galmpton that the two congregations merged in the 1860s with Galmpton becoming the parish church for the two. South Huish was a closed parish dominated by Court Barton, the main landholders for the parish, today Court Barton is converted to holiday homes. Like most Devon parishes pastoral farming dominated the parish economy, the parish did, however, include a stretch of Bigbury Bay which would have given access to some of the riches of the sea. Nowadays, as Court Barton testifies, South Huish's main economy is driven by tourism with the beaches of nearby Thurlestone Sand a popular attraction, as well the South West Way National Trail follows the cliffs through the parish bringing some trade. A small brook drains steeply to Thurlestone Sands draining the parish. South Huish is sited at around 40 metres above the sea on a small flattish shelf on the southern side of that stream's valley, beyond that valley land rises in strongly undulating countryside to local high spots at 132 metres within a mile or so. South Huish parish was a relatively small parish, covering just under 1,200 acres it would have supported a population of around 350 parishioners. In Domesday times South Huish was a holding of one Iudhael of Totnes, he appears to be a Saxon survivor, and was a relatively small settlement offering just 4 ploughs plus some meadows and pasture.

The Church

As can be seen from the images St Andrew's church was partially demolished when the two parishes were merged with Galmpton becoming the consolidated home of worship in the area. The former church stands adjoining the land of Court Barton on the northern side of the lane leading to the coast and passing through the main concentration of properties. The church does, in fact, still show enough dating detail to work out its history. The main body of nave & chancel date from the Early English Gothic period of the 13th century, a remnant of a lancet style window on the nave's northern face the clue to that dating. The still-standing western tower was acquired in the 14th century, a northern transept being also added contemporaneously or slightly later. The Perpendicular style of the 15th century saw the addition of a southern aisle and porch to complete the basic structure. A decision by the the vicar in 1866 decided the church's fate and 2 years later the roof was removed and the remainder partially demolished. A small area of broadened verge outside the gates allows a visit, the southern aspects being clear of obstacles for the photographer.