England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Thundersley St Peter

The Parish

The parish of Thundersley lies in southern Essex not too far from its south coast with the outer Thames Estuary. Thundersley is located roughly 6 miles west of the resort of Southend on Sea and sits just over a mile south of the A127 road which links Southend with London. Thundersley is a much changed area, early maps show the village as a small linear village stretching east from the church along today's Church Road and Hart Road with a distinct cluster gathered near today's primary school, all has changed with modern development of the area and today Thundersley is merely the western end of a vast metropolitan area stretching eastwards to Shoeburyness. Thundersley, itself, merges seamlessly into South Benfleet and Hadleigh whilst westwards less than a mile of open countryside separates it from the equally urban Basildon New Town, a vast change wrought largely in the 20th century. At the time of this transcript Thundersley would have been a typical Essex arable farming community with some areas of pasture sitting on more swampy ground. Today most of the area is drained sub-surface with small man-influenced drains headed south from the conurbation into the nearby Thames Estuary. Thundersley is sited at around 70 metres above the sea, standing on a distinct ridge above the coastal plain as the highest ground for a considerable distance. Thundersley parish was extensive for its county, covering some 2,100 acres and supporting a population of around 600 parishioners, albeit only just over 100 lived in the hamlet that gave its name to the parish. In Domesday times Thundersley was a tiny place, held by a Saxon survivor, Swein of Essex, its assets a mere 4 ploughs and an array of livestock.

The Church

St Peter's church sits on the southern side of Church Road, at the former western end of the village, where that road performs an abrupt kink to the north around the churchyard. In keeping with its modern surroundings the church underwent an astonishing change in 1966 when a new nave, totally over-shadowing the ancient building, was added, it is a statement piece that divides opinion. The remainder is certainly old and medieval with 13th century arcades & aisles in the Early English Gothic style being the oldest fabric of that piece remaining. The former standout feature is the 15th century spire sitting splay-footed above the timber belfry, Perpendicular in style with massive timbers internally to support it. The large new nave stands in place of what was a product of Victorian intervention, a chancel of 1885 stood here produced by a typical Victorian restoration. Church Road is an urban clearway with no parking so a pull-in east of the entrance serves for a car or two. For a modern area the church sits within a well-wooded locale and is not readily visible from the road. From the parking bay the new extension dominates the view, the church sits within trees taking away most of the available aspects and leaving only a limited range of views for the photographer.