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

The Parish

The parish of Hawkesbury lies in southeastern Gloucestershire, indeed it forms part of the border with neighbouring Wiltshire. Hawkesbury is located around 4 miles northeast of the market town of Chipping Sodbury. Hawkesbury is merely the junior partner in an unusual union, the hamlet of Hawkesbury lies at the foot of the Cotswold escarpment whereas the village of Hawkesbury Upton, its main population centre, lies some 60 metres higher on the top that escarpment. Hawkesbury sits in lanes about 2 miles west of the A46 road which connects Bath with Cirencester. The principal economy of the area at the time of this transcript would have been dominated by sheep and the production of wool, a certain amount of arable farming did also exist and this has grown markedly in recent times, economic diversity was provided by quarrying of the honey-coloured limestone for building materials. Hawkesbury is drained by a number of small brooks all heading westwards to join the River Little Avon, this small river reaches the Bristol Channel just west of Berkeley. Hawkesbury, the hamlet is sited at around 130 metres above the sea, Hawkesbury Upton at 190, the area is dominated by the seep escarpment of the limestone of the Cotswold making an ironically scenic area. Hawkesbury parish was one of the larger in the county, it covered just over 9,900 acres and would have supported a population of around 2,200 parishioners. In Domesday time Hawkesbury was held by Pershore Abbey, it was a bustling place offering 20 ploughs, small meadows and woodlands and 3 mills.

The Church

St Mary's church sits in the hamlet of Hawkesbury at the foot of the Cotswold escarpment on the southern side of the lane running to Horton. St Mary is a a much modified church with its origins in the 12th century. Evidence for this early date comes from the north doorway which shows the Romanesque style of the Norman period. The basis of the chancel is 13th century and Early English Gothic in style with windows representing that period (lancets), the later Decorated and also Perpendicular styles indicating many changes. It is clear that the 14th century brought many changes with the western tower dating from that century and through both Decorated and Perpendicular period windows and fabric were replaced and changed to the current fashion. A major restoration also took place in the 1880s which saw all of the internal plaster removed as well as refreshing the fabric. The church sits in a sloping site and the eastern end is 9 steps higher than the western end as a result. The church sits in an evocative setting with the wooded escarpment to its east surrounded by fields and the odd farm building. The churchyard is surrounded by a local limestone wall and entrance is at the western end, the churchyard is largely unrestricted for photography.