England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
St Brides Major St Bridget

The Parish

The parish of St Brides Major lies in the south of Glamorgan forming a lengthy stretch of the county's coastline with the outer Bristol Channel. St Brides Major is located about 3 miles south of the industrial town of Bridgend and sits on the B4265 which links Bridgend with Llantwit Major. St Brides Major is a mid-sized village and rather linear in layout with most properties lining the B4265 for almost a half mile from its northern edge through to Pitcot at its southern edge. The village starts where an incised valley levels out onto the coastal plateau. The wider parish also includes the larger coastal settlement of Ogmore by Sea, a relatively modern development from the Victorian seaside era. The parish has a long history, Dunraven Castle to the south being one of the ancient residences of Welsh princes including the semi-legendary Caractacus. In more modern times it was notorious for the activities of wreckers of passing ships with contraband the property of the land-owner it was not frowned upon by the local elite. More legitimate economic activity centred around arable farming with cereals the dominant crop. Today hikers frequent the coastline which is followed by the Welsh National Coastal Trail with Ogmore by Sea a welcome stop on such a lengthy undertaking. Modern developments have come to the parish with the railway line from Bridgend to Barry passing through to the east but not granting St Brides Major a station. The parish is coastal but the inland portion is drained westwards by the Afon Alun which meets the Ewenny River south of Bridgend before turning southwestwards to reach the outer Bristol Channel in a combined exit with Afon Ogwr. St Brides Major is sited at around 70 metres above the sea with land rising gently to the summit of Beacons Down at 101 metres to the northwest, the highest ground for some distance. St Brides Major parish is an extensive one covering just over 4,900 acres within which it would have supported a population of around 900 parishioners. Like most of Wales St Brides Major is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

St Bridget's church sits west of the B4265 accessed along Lon-Yr-Eglwys which performs a loop around the churchyard. The earliest part of the church is its chancel arch which reveals the style of the 12th century Norman Romanesque period, a date of c1138 is mentioned with the church already in existence. The chancel to which it is attached, however, was rebuilt during the 14th century its early lancets styled windows being given ogee heads characteristic of that later era. The nave is something of a puzzle, lacking clear dating details and leaving even Pevsner scratching his head but undoubtedly of medieval times. The western tower is the latest fabric of the main body being in a Perpendicular style from the every end of the 14th century. Pevsner's confusion is largely created by the extensive restoration of 1851 which he describes as "seriously compromising the building". A thorough job with little regard for style of the original medieval. Parking is best found at the start of Lon-Yr-Eglwys where on-street parking is used close to the Fox Inn, a short walk takes you to the churchyard which is extensive and but for a pair of conifers in the southeastern quadrant devoid of significant obstacles for the photographer.