England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Much Dewchurch St David

The Parish

The parish of Much Dewchurch lies in southern Herefordshire not too far from its border with neighbouring Monmouthshire Much Dewchurch is located about 6 miles southwest of the county town of Hereford. Much Dewchurch is a small and compact village sitting about a mile west of the A466 road which connects Hereford with Monmouth. The area would largely have been used for pastoral farming at the time of this transcript with Herefordshire beef predominating in the rolling landscapes. A small brook (The Worm Brook) drains the parish westwards to join the River Monnow then the Wye to reach the Bristol Channel through the town of Chepstow. Much Dewchurch is sited at around 100 metres above the sea although local heights rise on Orcop Hill to nearly 300 metres a couple of miles southwest of the village. By Herefordshire standards Much Dewchurch parish covered a large area, it covered just over 4,200 acres and would have supported a population of almost 600 parishioners. There is no specific mention of Much Dewchurch in Domesday Book.

The Church

St David's church lies in the south of the village tucked away from the main street and accessed by a short lane. The church, which is Norman in origin, has been extensively restored during two phases within the Victorian era. Despite these later addition elements of the mediaeval origins survive, the tower is 13th century, the southern doorway & window are Norman whilst the windows of nave & chancel are late 13th or early 14th centuries. The roof of the nave was replaced during the 15th or 16th centuries and changes from the Victorian period include the pyramidal roof to the tower, the northern aisle & vestry. The access lane ends at wooden gateways with the church still screened by trees, once through the churchyard opens out nicely allowing ample angles for photography.