England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Aconbury St John the Baptist

The Parish

The parish of Aconbury lies in southern Herefordshire about 4 miles south of the city of Hereford. Aconbury sits just under 2 miles east of the A49 road which connects Hereford with Monmouth. There is very little to modern-day Aconbury, a dispersed settlement with no defined village, it is likely this was a "closed parish" where all land was held by a single landholder which discouraged inbound migration. What remains is a scatter of farms and cottages which shelters below the Iron Age hill-fort which sits atop Aconbury Hill. The settlement, other than its pre-historic era, saw its foundation alongside a hospital of the Sisters of the Order of St John of Jerusalem which later became a house of Augustinian canonesses. Like many southern Herefordshire parishes the farming hereabouts is dominated by cattle, the famous county's beef herds predominate. Aconbury is drained northeastwards by a small tributary of the nearby River Wye which is soon met, the Wye then follows a long and winding course to reach the outer Bristol Channel through the port of Chepstow. Aconbury is sited at around 130 metres above the sea in rolling countryside but is dominated by its little hill which tops out at 276 metres. Aconbury parish was fairly typically sized for its county, covering just under 1,600 acres it would have supported a population of close to 150 parishioners. Aconbury is not specifically mentioned im Domesday Book.

The Church

St John the Baptist's church sits on the southern side of the narrow lane that runs from west to east through the parish and adjacent to Aconbury Court, believed to have at its core converted convent buildings. At Pevsner's visit the church had been deconsecrated and was used as a diocesan store. Originally a monastic church there is certain documentation of its foundation date in 1216, the architecture and style, however, is of slightly later than that date. The nave and chancel date from the mid to late 13th century and show both the Early English Gothic and Transitional styles of that century. Lancet windows in particular in the chancel are a clear indication of this era. The timber western porch which adorns the church is a later addition from the 15th century although it was renewed and braced a couple of centuries later due to movement. Like most churches a Victorian restoration took place, in this case in 1863 and which as well as a general refresh of the building gave us the timber bell-turret which tops the church. The narrow lane zigzags past the churchyard but has a sufficient verge to allow a visit without causing blockage. The churchyard, walled in local stone, has wooden gates for entry, the churchyard is rather tight to the church which somewhat restricts the angles available to the photographer and with the favoured southeastern aspect removed is a challenge on a sunny day.