England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Burnham on Crouch St Mary the Virgin

The Parish

The parish of Burnham on Crouch lies in southeastern Essex forming a lengthy stretch of the county's convoluted coastline, namely that formed by the Crouch's estuary. Burnham on Crouch is located roughly 12 miles south east of the market town and port of Maldon and sits at the eastern end of the combined B1012/B1010 roads which link Burnham on Crouch with South Woodham Ferrers. Burnham on Crouch is a port on the estuary of the Crouch but has spread inland into the low lying Dengie Peninsula stretching for over a mile northwards from its quays. The parish economy was driven by the access to the sea and its abundance, as a port ships of up to 250 tons could make the passage to its quays, bringing goods from the near continent and exporting and coastal moving of the produce of its hinterland. The sea also contained excellent shellfish with oysters such a productive species that 300 men were at one time employed in the harvest, sea fishing was also carried out. Inland the land is flat and marshy with grazing marsh prevalent largely populated by cattle, today it is almost totally arable. Modern developments arrived in the rail line from London terminating at nearby Southminster which granted Burnham on Crouch a station leading to some commuter expansion. As a coastal community numerous channels take water into the Crouch and thence to the North Sea. Burnham on Crouch is sited at between sea level and 20 metres, a spot height recording 45 metres to the northwest being the highest land hereabouts in very gentle terrain. Like many parishes incorporating reclaimed land Burnham on Crouch parish was rather extensive covering almost 4,300 acres and supporting a population of around 1,700 parishioners. Domesday Burnham on Crouch was held by Ralph Baynard and ignored the sea having merely 11 ploughs some pasture and a mill as a simple farming community.

The Church

St Mary's church sits over a mile north of Burnham on Crouch's quays on the Southminster Lane and at its junction with Marsh Road. The church is largely a product of the 14th and 15th century overlaid with more modern adjustments. The design is unique in its county consisting of a single structure of 9 bays with no discernible junction between chancel and nave. This long structure is augmented by aisle and chancel chapels. The rag-stone western tower is possibly the earliest section of the church dating from the early to mid 14th century and in the Decorated style, the northern aisle, earlier than its southern counterpart is contemporary. All of the remaining fabric of both nave and chancel is later 14th century or earlier 15th and Perpendicular in style, the 7 3-light windows of the southern face showing off the style to good effect. Before Victorian intervention there were two additions, a brick porch of the 16th century added to the north and in the late 17th century repairs to a barrel vault following a fire. A lengthy Victorian restoration running from 1871 to 1879 did little more than change the internal fittings without unduly marring the main fabric. The church is approached from the junction via a splendid driveway expanded to form a car park just beyond its entrance, a fine approach to any church. The church sits uncomfortably close to the western and tree-rich edges of the churchyard limiting views of the western tower but all other aspects are readily available for the photographer.