England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Preston by Cirencester All Saints

The Parish

The parish of Preston (one of two in Gloucestershire, hence the suffix) is located in southeastern Gloucestershire close to its border with neighbouring Wiltshire. As the suffix indicates this Preston is near to the ancient Roman town of Cirencester, indeed it is rapidly becoming absorbed into the town as it spreads. Preston is around a mile southeast of Cirencester and lies between the Roman Road (Ermine Way) and the modern Cirencester bypass of the A417 road. Preston is a linear settlement with buildings all along the lane which links those two roads. Preston is Cotswolds Gloucestershire with many local stone buildings making for an attractive village somewhat despoiled by the traffic using the lane. In the past this would have been sheep country with pastures bordered by dry-stone walls of the local limestone but nowadays the parish is dominated by a mixture of arable farming and the paddocks and like facilities that spring up close to a town. Preston stands at around 110 metres above sea level on a rise to the east of the River Churn which flows towards the Thames. The parish was a typical size for southern Britain around 2,000 acres and supported just over 200 parishioners. In Domesday times the land was largely in the hands of one Reinbald of Cirencester, with a portion owned directly by the King. The parish supported a healthy 12 ploughs as well as noted meadows.

The Church

All Saints' church is tucked away behind buildings to the north of the lane that passes through the village, a helpful sign points the way down a tarmac lane. The church is an early building being largely constructed in a mixture of early English and Decorated styles, this places its construction to the 13th and early 14th centuries. The building is compact and has a rather squat looking tower and a decorative bellcote that rather took Pevsner fancy, he described it "an outstandingly fine example". In addition to the basic nave & chancel structure there are both north & south transepts, an indication of a more populous place than nowadays. The site is screened by mature trees and there are a few around the graveyard too which somewhat restrict photo-lines but it is very peaceful given its somewhat hidden site.