England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Croft St Michael

The Parish

The parish of Croft lies in northern Herefordshire about 5 miles north of the market town of Leominster. Croft sits just north of the B4362 road which runs across northern Herefordshire from the Radnorshire market town of Presteigne eastwards to the A49 at Brimfield. Croft is a parish for which the medieval village has disappeared, the entire parish lying within the estate of Croft Castle and extensively modified to create a parkland estate. The estate was owned by the Croft family from as early as 1085 but the fortified manor house of the 13th century was rebuilt in the 17th century by the present Craft Castle. Today that "castle" and the entire estate is managed by The National Trust and is very much a local visitor attraction. At the time of this transcript estate affairs dictated almost all parish economic activity, a mixed farming regime was practiced despite the challenging terrain, a limestone quarry supplemented farming incomes. Croft is drained eastwards by small tributaries of "The Main Ditch" which reaches the Lugg at Leominster, the latter joins the Wye to the east of Hereford and eventually the outer Bristol Channel through the port of Chepstow. Croft sits on a sloping site with Yatton Hill rising above, the church and "castle" stand at around 170 metres above the sea whilst the hills above rise to a height of just above 300 metres. Croft parish was fairly typically sized for this area, covering just under 1,600 acres it would have supported a population of just under 150 parishioners. In Domesday times Croft was a tiny place, held by one William d'Ecouis it could muster just 3 ploughs.

The Church

St Michael's church sits within the parkland setting of the estate immediately to the east of the castle. The earliest parts of the church date from the early to mid 14th century and are Decorated in style, this consists of the main body of the church of nave & chancel. This basic body was, however, modified during the early 16th century when the east window was replaced, a former chapel was created for the Croft family memorial too but this has mostly been removed. One eye is, of course, drawn very much to the western end and its highly decorated bell-turret. This feature with its distinctive diamond shaped clock and panels is a creation of around c1700. Since that date little has been done, there appears not to have been a Victorian restoration to mar the dating detail. As a visitor attraction a substantial car park has been laid out a short walk away, entry to the church remains, at time of writing, free. There are no obstacles surrounding the church allowing easy access for the photographer.