England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Barking St Margaret

The Parish

The parish of Barking lies in the extreme southeast of Essex forming a stretch of the counties watery border with neighbouring Kent across the outer Thames. Barking is located roughly 7 miles east of the city of London and stands immediately north of the A13 road which links London with the Essex coastline as far east as Southend on Sea. Barking is a much changed place, it originated through the foundation of its Benedictine Abbey in 670, a major abbey of the land until dissolution which was managed by celebrated abbesses some of whom were lesser royals. Under their control Barking became a major market town for its sub-region and especially a significant port. Situated at the confluence of Barking Creek with the outer Thames it flourished as one of the nation's major fishing port, early gazetteers estimate as many as 1,000 men were employed on the fishing fleet which traveled extensively for its input. Barking Creek became a transshipment point for supply into London's Billingsgate too. In later times its proximity to the capital provided revenue from market gardening supplying the capital's ravenous meed for food, this became significant once the former Royal hunting forest of Hainault, which occupied a large portion of the parish, became available for wider use. As the capital has resolutely expanded Barking has become contiguous with the wider urban conurbation, its waterside, however, and poorer reputation lead it to become the site for the less savoury industries which flourished Thames-side. Modern developments arrived thickly, the capital's rail infrastructure arriving in 1854 sparked further urban development whilst the A13 has been upgraded to dual-carriageway to speed traffic through the clogged urban environment. It is ironic that the Thames frontage is nowadays seen as choice area for upmarket housing fronting the river, a welcome replacement for the grime of its past. Sitting on Barking Creek most water flows quickly into the Thames and thus to the North Sea. Barking's centre is sited at or just above sea level and it is not until well over 2 miles from the Thames that the 10 metre contour is breached in this flat river-terrace. At 3,800 acres Barking parish was the largest by area in its county, the parishes population was a growing phenomenon during the life of this transcript, the volume of marriages is consistent with a population close to 4,000 parishioners but it is many thousands higher today, if not into millions. In Domesday times it status as one of the largest 20% by population cannot be disputed, held by its abbey the assets available are simply remarkable, no fewer than 80 ploughs are supported by meadows and pig-stuffed woodlands, 2 mills and that fishery that was so important to the town's development.

The Church

St Margaret's church stands within the grounds of the dissolved abbey on the western side of Broadway within a wonderful open space, a breath of fresh air in this crowded urban environment. The church is a large and complex building which grew between the 13th and 16th centuries. At its core is the standard layout of nave and chancel with a western tower, to the nave have been added a southern aisle and both inner and outer northern aisles whilst the chancel has acquired a similar arrangement with chapels, a southern chapel and both inner and outer northern chapels, there is also a southern vestry. The nave aisles enclose the western tower. For the details of the chronology one must read Pevsner detailed exposition which covers 3 pages of dense argument, suffice it to say that the chancel appears to be 13th century, the nave of the 14th and the tower of the 15th century with many additions and later restorations of the late 18th and typical Victorian period. This is definitely a church for which an extended visit is required and a local car park is best sought to enable that time. The approach through the Abbey's Curfew tower is recommended giving excellent views for the photographer but detailed views are challenged by the forest which surrounds the southwestern, western and northern aspects to the church.