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

The Parish

The parish of Cranborne forms the northeastern extremity of Dorset having lengthy stretches of the border with Hampshire, South Damerham parish has moved to Hampshire but would have once been in Wiltshire thus there would have been a 3-counties meet. Cranborne is located some 30 miles northeast of the county town of Dorchester but only 9 miles northwest of the Hampshire market town of Ringwood. Cranborne is something of a decayed small market town, for much of the medieval period it was the regional centre for this tri-border area offering a market noted for its cheese and livestock notably sheep. As a centre for specialist trades it also was engaged in ribbon making which has since died out. Cranborne sits within Cranborne Chase a former royal hunting ground and is surrounded by extensive heaths and woodland which were exploited for low density grazing and woodland products. Such was the prominence of the chase that in 1208 a royal hunting lodge was established and regularly visited by monarchs and their court for hunting parties. The site eventually was converted into Cranborne Manor the mansion of the Earls of Salisbury. Earlier still Cranborne had a religious house for Benedictines which subsequently removed to Tewkesbury. The extensive parish was also farmed but a percentage breakdown of 41% arable, 17% pastoral and 42% woodland and heath detailed in early gazetteers underlines its true nature. Only the winding B3078 from Fordingbridge to Wimborne Minster passes through the town which ultimately to the secession of its market, today Cranborne is a sleepy town popular with tourists but away from the main drag, there being no significant modern developments nearby. Cranborne is drained eastwards by the River Crane which soon turns south to meet the Stour and then he English Channel through Christchurch Harbour. Cranborne is sited around 60 metres above the sea but land rises onto the chalk northwards reaching the prominent hilltop of Penbury Knot topped by a pre-Roman fort and numerous tumuli at 185 metres. In total Cranborne parish covers just under 13,100 acres and would have supported a population of close to 2,500 parishioners. Given its status as a royal haunt it is not surprising that Cranborne was held directly by King William at Domesday and was large enough to be placed amongst the top 20% of settlements by population, assets of 10 ploughs, meadows, many leagues of pasture and woodland and 4 mills made for a very wealthy manor for the King.

The Church

St Mary & St Bartholomew's church sits west of the B3078 at the point where that road performs a dramatic right angled bend to pass through the town, Church Street is the dead-end which terminates at the churchyard gates. The church has its origins as part of the Benedictine Abbey that was founded in c980, after Tewkesbury became he major house the abbey declined such that at the dissolution it held only 2 monks. All of the monastic buildings have disappeared and nothing in the church which remains is earlier than the 12th century. The 12th century fabric is a reset doorway on the northern side of the nave. The nave, itself, together with southern aisle, dates from the cusp of 13th into 14th century from the short Transitional era. From the same era is the impressive 6-bat arcades with alternating columns of octagonal and quatrefoil sections. The 15th century saw the addition of the western tower in the Perpendicular style, it is well documented through indulgences to c1440, at the same time the 5-light west window was inserted as well as the clerestory. The typical Victorian restoration ran from 1873 to 1875 and included the addition of a porch in correct Early English Gothic styling in keeping with its surroundings and the rebuilding of the church's eastern end including the chancel arch. It is not advised to try Church Street for parking, there is a car park within the town and it is better to approach on foot, imposing metal gates grant entry to a churchyard which is extensive and contains only the odd easily avoided tree allowing free rein for the photographer.