England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Little Chesterford St Mary the Virgin

The Parish

The parish of Little Chesterford lies in the extreme northwest of Essex, quite close to but not forming part of the border with neighbouring Cambridgeshire. Little Chesterford is a small village lying on the eastern banks of the River Granta about 3 miles northwest of the market town of Saffron Walden. Little Chesterford sits on the B184, the former route of the A11 (Norwich to London road) now superseded by the modern M11 which runs west of the Cam. At the time of this transcript Little Chesterford would have been an agricultural community and little has changed, cereals in vast fields dominating the rolling chalky hillsides. The Granta drains the parish northwards passing through Cambridge as the Cam and reaching the North Sea through The wash after joining the Great Ouse. Little Chesterford is sited at around 40 metres above the sea and the gentle rolling countryside rises to local heights of around 100 metres or so within a few miles. By the standards of this area of Essex Little Chesterford parish was small, it covered just under 1,200 acres and the population was equally small at just over 200 parishioners. In Domesday times Little Chesterford was held by one Walter the deacon and could offer just 5 ploughs , small meadows & woodland but did possess a mill.

The Church

St Mary the Virgin's church sits at the southern end of the village, accessed along a short track from the bend in the lane as it approaches the crossing of the Granta, the church sits almost on the riverbank too. The church has its origins in the 13th century showing the lancet windows characteristic of the Early English Gothic style of architecture. The building had a refresh, as did most, when perpendicular styles predominated and also received a major Victorian restoration in 1855. The church is a simple and small one suitable for the small congregation consisting of a combined nave & chancel topped by a western bellcote. From the sharp bend in High Street a parking area is straight ahead and a footpath leads onwards into the churchyard. The grouping of trees around the western end is rather tight and limits the angles available for photography.