England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Moreton Jeffries

The Parish

The parish of Moreton Jeffries (often spelt Jeffreys) lies in eastern central Herefordshire about 5 miles southwest of the market town of Bromyard. Moreton Jeffries sits a half mile west of the A465 which connects Bromyard with Hereford. Moreton Jeffries is a tiny place, little more than a hamlet which sits at the end of a dead-end lane and at the base of a low knoll, Windmill Hill. Moreton Jeffries was once a little larger, earthworks remain to the south of the present cluster of farms and cottages, traces of a lost medieval village. A typical farming community of the area it would have practiced a mixed farming regime. Moreton Jeffies is drained southwestwards by a small tributary of the River Lugg, which joins the Wye to the east of Hereford before making a long journey to the sea reached through the port of Chepstow & the Bristol Channel. Moreton Jeffies is sited at 90 metres above the sea with Windmill Hill some 40 metres higher, land continues to rise to the north reaching over 200 metres at nearby Pencombe Cross. In a county of small parishes Moreton Jeffries was one of the smallest, covering just under 650 acres it would have barely supported 50 parishioners. In Domesday time Moreton Jeffries was a holding of the Canons of Hereford, still small but offering 5 ploughs, a small meadow and possessed a salthouse.

The Church

The parish church, it has no known dedication, sits amongst the cluster of farms and cottages at the base of Windmill Hill. It is no longer used frequently for worship and is managed by the Churches Conservation Trust since 1984. Whilst the church appears to be 14th century in origin, Pevsner suspects it is, in fact, a little older. It is a church which has been repeatedly changed over the centuries, however. From a simple base of combined nave & chancel it was in medieval times extended and acquired the timber bell-turret. The chancel was re-roofed in the 17th century whilst the Victorian period saw restorations in both the 1840s and 1860s. It is internally that the church has its most notable feature, a complete set of 17th century panelled pews and triple-deck pulpit, a rare and pleasing ensemble. From the end of the lane unsurfaced farm roads lead to the church where a small parking area can be found. Sadly the church is rather enclosed by trees to its south removing the favoured aspects and making for a tricky subject on a sunny day for the photographer.