England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Aston St Giles

The Parish

The parish of Aston lies in the extreme north of Herefordshire, indeed it forms a short part of the border with neighbouring Shropshire. Aston is more commonly known as Pipe Aston and is shown as such on modern maps, the name originating from the manufacture of clay pipes locally. Aston is located about 4 miles southwest of the Shropshire market town of Ludlow and sits in a large area devoid of significant roads about 3 miles west of the B4361 road which connects Ludlow with Leominster. There is very little to Aston just a string of cottages along the lane from Wigmore to Ludlow and a scatter of nearby farms. Other than the above mentioned clay pipe manufacturing, the economy would have been based almost exclusively on pastoral farming on the stiff clay-rich soils. Small streams drain Aston westwards to shortly join the River Teme and head back northeastwards eventually reaching the Severn to the south of Worcester and thence to the Bristol Channel. Aston is sited at around 150 metres above the sea in hilly countryside, local heights rise to 370 metres within a mile on High Vinnalls which dominates to the east. Aston parish was tiny, as are many Herefordshire parishes, it covered just over 700 acres and would have supported a population of barely 50 parishioners. In Domesday times Aston was held by one Ralph of Mortimer and was equally small, it offered just 5 ploughs.

The Church

St Giles' church sits on the eastern side of the Wigmore to Ludlow lane as it winds through the hamlet. The church has a very early date with extensive features from the Norman Romanesque period remaining despite later work. Both the nave and the lower portion of the chancel are Norman albeit much restored. The upper portion of the chancel was rebuilt in the 13th century in an Early English Gothic style with 3 lancet windows marking this period. Some work on the windows occurred in the 15th century but the 19th century saw the usual Victorian work and in this case the major restorations of 1843 & 1877-1883 saw the production of today's building. Work did not cease in that era as in 1948 the southern vestry was rebuilt thus today's church. The church sits on the eastern side of Killhorse Lane and a small parking area permits a car or two to pause. The churchyard is bordered by a curious low battemented wall with gates granting entry on the southern corner. Trees rather hem in the western aspect restricting the angles for adequately photographing the bellcote.