England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Long Sutton All Saints

The Parish

The parish of Long Sutton lies in northeastern Hampshire not too far from its border with neighbouring Surrey. Long Sutton is located about 6 miles north of the small market town of Alton. Long Sutton is a small and compact village sitting a mile east of the B3346 road which connects Alton with Odiham. Like most villages in this area of the county Long Sutton would have been, and indeed still is, a farming community with arable farming in dominance. Much of the area sits above porous rock so there is little surface drainage, enough eventually emerges to form the headwaters of the Whitewater River which heads northwards, this eventually joins in turn the Blackwater, Loddon and finally Thames (near Reading) flowing through the capital to the North Sea. Long Sutton is sited at around 120 metres above the sea in rolling countryside rising to local heights of 225 metres on Holybourne Down to the southwest. Long Sutton parish was fairly typically sized for this area, covering just over 2,200 acres it would have supported a population of close to 300 parishioners. In Domesday times Long Sutton was a much more substantial place, held by the Bishop of Winchester it could offer an incredible 46 ploughs, meadows & woodland and 2 mills and was amongst the largest 40% of places mentioned in the Book.

The Church

All Saints' church sits towards the western end of the village on the northern side of the main lane running through (The Street). The church is a simple affair with nave and chancel topped by a centrally placed bell-turret, a southern aisle and arcade augment the basic structure. The church has its origins in the 13th century, the windows have been modified in some cases to appear Norman Romanesque in style but this is a later adjustment. The presence of lancets is indicative of an early 13th century date for the main body whilst the southern aisle is of the later part of that century. Whilst Pevsner does not mention a Victorian restoration, the altering of the windows in style externally is indicative some work was done. The churchyard is fronted by a low brick& flint mixed wall with wooden gates granting entry, the church is somewhat close to its southern boundary and this, together with extensive tree cover, make for a difficult subject to adequately photograph.