England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Baunton St Mary Magdalene

The Parish

The parish of Baunton lies in southeastern Gloucestershire roughly 2 miles north of the market town of Cirencester. Baunton sits immediately west of the A417 trunk road which links Swindon in Wiltshire through to Gloucester and which forms Cirencester's eastern bypass, the road followed the ancient Roman road of Ermin Way until diverted to become the bypass. Baunton is a small linear riverside settlement sitting on the eastern banks of the River Churn, a short run of properties begins at the bridge over the river and runs out at the parish church, it is a mixture of both traditional Cotswold cottages and modern developments. As a riverside community the parish would have had access to pastures but the majority of the acreage was arable. The A417 is a major modern development taking fast & heavy traffic along its dual carriageway from the M4 motorway to the M5, a very popular short-cut with hauliers. Baunton is drained southwards by the Churn which passes through Cirencester, into the former gravel pit complex of Cotswold Water Park where it meets the Thames, that mighty river is still close to its source and has a long journey eastwards to the capital before reaching the North Sea. Baunton is sited at around 120 metres above the sea in its valley setting, east of the A417 land rises onto a limestone plateau with most land between 170 & 180 metres as the highest local terrain. Covering just over 1,300 acres Baunton parish was a small one for this area, that acreage supporting a population of close to 200 parishioners. In Domesday times Baunton was an equally small and rural farming manor, shared between one Geoffrey Orlateille and a Saxon survivor Ketil's son Edric, Ketil held the manor pre-conquest, assets of 6 ploughs and some small meadows accurately convey its status.

The Church

St Mary's church stands at the point where Baunton's single lane declines into a mere footpath which follows the eastern bank of the Churn to North Cerney and beyond, a popular local walk. The church was founded in the middle of the 12th century as a chapel of ease to Cirencester, it was at the behest of the monks of the Augustinian Abbey. The basic footprint of nave and chancel with no tower and much fabric remains of the 12th century Norman Romanesque style, Pevsner singles out the plain round-headed Norman chancel arch for special mention because of its chamfered abaci. The simple bellcote appears to be a 13th century addition as is the north window of the chancel, the western window is later and in the early 14th century Decorated style. The final medieval acts were 15th century and Perpendicular, the southern porch and associated doorway were completed and the screen converted to become a reredos. A thorough Victorian restoration took place in 1876 which rebuilt the chancel and added the northern vestry to complete the layout. The lane leading to the church is narrow so if used for parking consideration must be shown allowing access for the residents. The churchyard has a bank of trees to the southwest of the church which impacts those views but most angles are available for the photographer.