England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Orsett St Giles & All Saints

The Parish

The parish of Orsett lies in southern Essex not too far from its southern coastline with the outer Thames Estuary. Orsett is located roughly 4 miles northeast of the Thames-side town of Grays Thurrock and some 18 miles south of Chelmsford. Orsett sits a half mile north of the A13 road which links London with Southend, it occupies a square-ish site either side of the short linking road of the B188 with most properties lying to the south of that road, the parish is, however, extensive spreading northwards to an area of former fen nowadays drained to farmland. Like most Essex parishes Orsett is dominated by arable farming, the fen area saw some pastures but most have been ploughed after drainage. Modern developments have come to Orsett with the A13 being developed into a fast dual-carriageway highway whilst its offshoot the A1089 is also such a highway serving the busy docklands of Tilbury. Orsett is drained southwestwards by the Mar Dyke which meanders under the M25 motorway to reach the Thames west of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. Orsett is sited at around 20 metres above the sea in rather flat terrain, a few spots rise above the 30 metre contour by none by very much. Orsett was an extensive parish, one of the largest in its county by area at just over 4,100 acres within that acreage it would have supported a population of around 1,400 parishioners. In Domesday times Orsett was an equally important place, sufficiently populous enough to be amongst the largest 20% by population recorded in that book, the manor was chiefly held by the Bishop of London with Count Eustace of Boulogne having a much smaller share, collectively their assets of 32 ploughs together with a small woodland indicate the arable nature of the parish even at that early date and also at its relatively large size.

The Church

St Giles & All Saints' church sits on the northern side of the B188 as it zigzags its way through the large village. Reflecting the parish's importance in Norman times the church also shows fabric from as early as that date. Pevsner indicates that the main body of the nave is 12th century Norman Romanesque in style with that style confirmed by "primitive volute capitals". Also from the 12th century is a small round-headed window on the south wall. The church is unusual in appearing to have two chancels the first of the 12th century is incorporated into the nave, however. Scars left after its removal indicate the church once had a 13th century Early English Gothic northern aisle but changes in the 14th century removed or reused that feature. Much else beyond the nave is of that 14th century change which occurred between 1330 & 1340 in the Decorated style and added the second chancel. The western tower is a 15th century addition in the Perpendicular style, the brick sections within date from repairs carried out in both 1610 & 1678. The final piece added in early times is the northern (Whitmore) chapel dating from c1500. Recent times saw two fires and a restoration make substantial changes, in 1837 after a fire the church had to be returned to good order, in 1865 as part of a restoration the transeptal southern chapel, the organ chamber and northern vestry were added and in 1927 following a second fire the roofs had to be renewed. The B188 is if sufficient width to allow unfettered street parking outside the churchyard, a row of trees lining the southern edges of that churchyard limit views from that direction making for a difficult subject on a sunny day.