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

The Parish

The parish of Tolleshunt Major lies in eastern Essex forming a short stretch of the county's convoluted coastline, in this case with the Blackwater Estuary. Tolleshunt Major was occasionally known in the past as Beckingham, a reference to the hall by which the church lies. There are three Tolleshunts close to each and northeast of the port of Maldon, Tolleshunt Major lies some 5 miles northeast of that port and sits just over a mile north of the B1026 road which connects Maldon with Colchester. Tolleshunt Major consist of a half miles of properties leading westwards from a crossroads with the lane leading to Great Totham. The area is largely used for arable production and this has always been the dominant land-use, a small acreage of the parish fronts the Blackwater Estuary and here grazing marsh and reed beds enabled a small contribution to vary that economy.  Small creeks drain the low-lying land the short distance to the estuary and thence to the North Sea. Tolleshunt Major is sited at around 20 metres above the sea and whilst most of the land hereabouts is at or below that level, land does rise northwestwards reaching 80 metres within a couple of miles but still in gentle terrain. Many of the parishes in this area are stretched thin on a northwest to southeast axis, presumably to encompass the differing land-uses enabled by including marsh with dry arable soils, Tolleshunt Major was fairly typically sized despite this thin shape, covering just under 2,200 acres it would have supported a population of close to 450 parishioners. In Domesday times the three Tolleshunts were recorded as a single entity, identifying the assets of Tolleshunt Major is thus difficult, collectively no fewer than 9 landholders has a share and the assets totalled an impressive 26 ploughs, extensive meadows, pastures and woodland and an impressive 13 salthouses.

The Church

St Nicholas' church sits almost a half mile east of the centre of the village nestling alongside Beckingham Hall and on the eastern side of Church Road. Pevsner describes the building as being "a humble church", a characteristic perhaps enhanced by the use of pudding-stone for the main body. The church has its origins in the 12th century with the combined nave and chancel reflecting that Norman Romanesque style. The 15th century and early 16th saw much change with the main body restyled to the late-Perpendicular fashion and the western tower, dated to 1545, added or rebuilt. The diaper-work shown on the tower is rather distinctive. As is usual there was a Victorian restoration, in this case of 1888, at which a southern porch and northern vestry were added as well as a general refresh and repair of the main church. Whilst Church Lane is narrow there is a broad verge for parking opposite, well-worn by regular users. The churchyard is mainly hedged but facing the road has a wooden fence interrupted a wooden gates for entry. Once within the churchyard has no obstacles for the photographer.