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

The Parish

The parish of Frome St Quintin, the parish name a the river on which it sits joined with the St Quintin family lords of the manor in early times, sits in western central Dorset roughly 11 miles northwest of the county town of Dorchester. Frome St Quintin sits about a half mile west of the A37 road which links Dorchester with Yeovil in Somerset. Frome St Quintin is a slightly linear village, tucked away in a fold in the downs and sitting on the eastern banks of the River Frome, a run of properties parallels the course of the river for between 1/4 and 1/2 mile. The valley of the Frome is deeply incised in this area with steep valley sides leading to rolling chalk downland, Frome St Quintin would have been primarily a pastoral farming parish with cattle by the river and sheep grazing both the steep slopes and the plateau-like tops of the downs. The crest of the downs, now followed by the A37 is followed by the ancient Roman Road between the two "chesters" of Dorchester & Ilchester and would have seen much military activity in the early period of Roman occupation. Where soldiers would have take their breaks now rest a go-cart track. Modern developments have come to the parish, the railway line between Yeovil & Dorchester passes down the Frome valley without granting Frome St Quintin a station. Frome St Quintin is drained southwards by the Frome which curves southeast and then, after Dorchester, east to reach Poole Harbour and then to the English Channel. Frome St Quintin is sited at around 150 metres above the sea whereas the A37 runs along a crest at close to 240 metres. Frome St Quintin was one of the smaller parishes in its county covering just 982 acres which would have supported a population of around 150 parishioners. From Frome St Quintin's Domesday entry it would appear to have shrunk somewhat over the intervening centuries, held directly by King William it offered 6 ploughs, meadows & woodland and a mill.

The Church

St Mary's church stands northeast of the village and slightly up the slope towards the A37, it is reached by two routes, a diagonal footpath, which crosses a field, directly from the centre of the village or alternatively a lane becoming a farm access track curves around to its east and one approaches from that direction, both are sloppy after heavy rain. Both nave and chancel began life in the 13th century during the early English Gothic era, 2 lancet styled windows remain to confirm those origins. Minor alteration followed in both the early 14th century, a window added with reticulated tracery in the Decorated style and more significantly in the late 14th century with Perpendicular styled window additions and the completion of the northwestern tower. As is almost customary a Victorian restoration was carried out in 1881 which re-faced both the southern and western walls and scraped the interior of the nave, too, much to Pevsner's distaste. Either route to the church is of similar distance from suitable parking, the churchyard is, however, clear of all obstacles for the photographer.