England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Elmdon St Nicholas

The Parish

The parish of Elmdon lies in the extreme northwest of Essex, forming part of the border with neighbouring Cambridgeshire and also it is not too far away from Hertfordshire. Elmdon is a mid-sized village sitting roughly 5 miles west of the market town of Saffron Walden which sits just under 2 miles north of the B1039 road which links Saffron Walden with Royston. Elmdon parish has a slightly odd appearance with an inclusion of the parish of Wendon Lofts into its western edges giving it the appearance of a reversed "C". Elmdon is largely formed around a T-junction of lanes, one running east to west with a southward tail and all three lanes lined with picturesque properties. Like most parishes in this productive farming area, arable farming was the predominant factor in the economy, its underlying chalky soil being light and easy to work has lead to large fields of cereals even today. Elmdon is drained southeastwards by a small brook which eventually joins the River Cam (also known as Granta) close to Audley End Station, here matters turn back northward and the Cam, after passing through Cambridge crosses The Fens meeting the Great Ouse and eventually The Wash through the port of King's Lynn. Elmdon is sited at around 120 metres above the sea, a relatively high point for its county, a slightly higher spot height of 134 marks the nearest local high point. By Essex standards Elmdon was one of the larger parishes, covering just under 3,200 acres it would have supported a population of just under 700 parishioners. In Domesday times Elmdon was an equally arable parish, held by Count Eustace of Boulogne its assets were dominated by its 14 ploughs with merely a 7 acre meadow and a small wood to vary that arable nature.

The Church

St Nicholas' church sits at the heart of the village where all three lanes meet at that T-junction. Whilst the church has medieval origins very little remains from that period. Early gazetteers describe the church as an ancient edifice but were clearly written before the Victorians got to work. Only the embattled 15th century western tower, in a Perpendicular style, remains from the early days and that was also renewed from its "dilapidated state" in 1847, the feat recorded on a commemorative plate. The nave and its aisles were rebuilt some 5 years later in 1852 whilst the chancel followed by 1880. Even the 20th century saw rebuilding as the southern chapel, too, was rebuilt in 1905. Apart from that medieval tower this is almost entirely post-dating the period of this transcript. The church sits well above street height with a sloping access road, ideal for safe parking, rising to the open churchyard. The rather spacious churchyard has few if any obstacles for the photographer.