England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Bridge Sollers St Andrew

The Parish

The parish of Bridge Sollers lies in west central Herefordshire about 6 miles northwest of the city of Hereford. Bridge Sollers sits on the A438 road which connects Hereford westwards to Hay on Wye & ultimately Brecon. There is very little to Bridge Sollers, which earns its name from the crossing of the River Wye, most properties lie along the lane running southwards from the A438 and are either side of the Wye's bridge. At the time of this transcript the parish would have largely earned its living from pastoral farming, little has changed. The fertile flood plain of the Wye supports large dairy herds although some arable has crept in in recent times. The Wye drains the parish eastwards heading ultimately for the Bristol Channel through the town of Chepstow. Bridge Sollers is sited at around 80 metres above the sea but land is quite hilly nearby, the isolated outcrop of Garnons Hill, to the northwest, rises to 233 metres and is topped by a stretch of Offa's Dyke although the National Trail has its route somewhat further west. Bridge Sollers parish was one of the many tiny parishes that characterises Herefordshire, it covered little more than 700 acres and would have supported a population of a few more than 50 parishioners. IN Domesday times Bridge Sollers was held by the Canons of Hereford St Peter, it was clearly a little more substantial than today offering 6 ploughs.

The Church

St Andrew's church stands almost at the junction of the A438 with Bridge Sollers' main land leading to the Wye Bridge, it's access is from that lane. The church has early origins with the western tower and the southern doorway, Pevsner dating both to the late 12th century as he also does for the northern arcade. Some Norman style windows remain within the nave but are probably reused following later restoration. The chancel he places later in the build, in the 13th century or possibly the early 14th as its uses a Decorated style for its design. Most of the roofing was replaced during the latter century and in common with most churches the Victorians had their usual restoration, in this case of the late 1880s, modern work continued into the early 21st century. The entrance to the hedged churchyard sits adjacent to a small farm where a wooden gate grants access and there is a small parking area. The eastern end of the church sits rather closely by the eastern boundary and its many mature trees limiting angles a little but not preventing adequate angles for photography.