England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Totnes St Mary

The Parish

The parish of Totnes lies in southeastern Devon not too far from its English Channel coast. Totnes is a medium sized market town lying some 24 miles south of the city of Exeter and 6 miles west of the seaside resorts of Torbay. Totnes sits on the intersection of the A385 (Paignton to South Brent) and A381 (Newton Abbot to Kingsbridge) roads and at the crossing of the River Dart, a point which formerly marked the limit of navigation for that river. Totnes is also accessed by modern communications sitting, as it does, on the rail line from Exeter to Plymouth. Totnes has an ancient history, believed to be even pre-Roman in its origins, it has certainly existed since long before the Normans arrived and built their castle at the upper, western end of what was then a small settlement of 110 households. Totnes' economy would have derived from its location as a market for local produce, the area is underpinned by pastoral farming, its function as a small, if tidal, port and small industries including the weaving of serge fabric. Today Totnes remains a medium sized market town, the centre for shopping of its area and given its rail links a popular commuter settlement for those larger centres. The Dart drains the parish southwards widening into its ria as it nears the sea and eventually reaching the sea through the port of Dartmouth. Totnes is sited between sea level at the Dart crossing and 30 metres on higher ground at the western end of the town, the terrain surrounding Totnes is rolling countryside with local heights rising to 200 metres within 3 miles of the town. Totnes parish was small for Devon, the original area being just over 1,000 acres that acreage, however, would have supported a population of almost 3,900 parishioners. AS stated Totnes was in existence at Domesday times, it being held by one Iudhael, the assets of the town were not specifically enumerated but as it was taxed at a value of £8 it was clearly only a relatively small place at that time.

The Church

St Mary's church stands at the heart of Totnes towards the upper, western end of the town set back behind properties along the High Street and presenting only a snapshot view from that street. A remarkably preserved set of documentation enables the exact dating of the church to be made and it is creation of the mid-15th century and almost totally in a Perpendicular style. The outstanding feature, of course, is the western tower, a piece described by Pevsner as "out of the ordinary in design". It stands at 120 feet in height and is a landmark for miles. Highly decorated and with tall corner pinnacles it certainly merits that description. The remainder of the church is large, as expected of a market town church, with embattled aisles augmenting the basic nave and chancel design. The pride & joy of the church is, however, internal; the stone screen of 1460 which crosses the entire reach of the church is described rightly by Pevsner as "one of the most perfect in England" and is worth a visit in its own right. Of course there were later additions to the building from its original state, an outer northern aisle being added in 1824 as well as a major restoration between 1867 & 1874 to reach the present condition. St Mary is best approached on foot, the facaded tower presenting itself to the High Street being flush with the pavements, whilst crowded with commercial and residential properties at the western end satisfactory views can be achieved for photography from the northeastern approach along Guildhall Yard.