England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Pauntley St John

The Parish

The parish of Pauntley lies in northwestern Gloucestershire, indeed it forms part of the border with neighbouring Worcestershire, a rather fretted border in these parts with Redmarley D'Abitot parish changing hands between the two. Pauntley is located about 3 miles northeast of the small market town of Newent and sits in an area almost devoid of major roads, the closest being the A417 which connects the Herefordshire market town of Ledbury through to Gloucester and which sits over 2 miles east of Pauntley. There is very little to modern day Pauntley, an estate and closed village, most land being in the hands of the local squire it never developed a village as such and consists of the estate of Pauntley Court (the alleged home of Dick Whittington of cat & panto fame) as well as a scatter of adjacent farms & cottages. The local economy was wholly based around the interests of the estate, being dominated by farming of a mainly pastoral nature. Pauntley is drained southeastwards by the River Leadon which heads to Gloucester and the Severn and thence through to the Bristol Channel. Pauntley is sited at around 30 metres above the sea in gently rolling countryside, local heights rise to around 70 metres within a mile or two. Pauntley parish was fairly typically sized for its county, covering around 2,000 acres it would have supported a population of just under 300 parishioners, much fewer today. In Domesday times Pauntley was held by one Ansfrid de Cormeilles, it could offer just 9 ploughs but did possess a mill.

The Church

St John's church sits at the end of the dead-end lane heading for Pauntley Court, the church being on the edge of the grounds of the estate. Making much use of the local red sandstone it is an attractive church especially in evening sunshine. The oldest portion of the church is the main body of nave, chancel arch and chancel which show Norman features which are 12th century. The iron hinged door to the northern doorway dates to the 13th century, as do the piscinas, but stands in a timber-framed porch of a century late. The western tower is Perpendicular and late for that period other features of that era include the north window of the chancel. The church was almost ruinous for a time but a restoration has occurred to return the church to its current splendour. The church stands at the end of Pauntley Court Drive between the estate and adjacent farm buildings, a small grassy area allows parking. The churchyard is surrounded by a low, local stone wall with wooden gates granting entry, it is relatively open with just a handful of evergreens screening some angles and just making photography a little challenging.