England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Gilston St Mary

The Parish

The parish of Gilston lies in the extreme east of Hertfordshire forming part of the county's border with neighbouring Essex. Gilston is located roughly 2 miles north of the Essex New Town of Harlow, a former market town, and sits under a mile northeast of the A414 road which links Harlow with Hertford. Gilston is a rather dispersed settlement consisting of two main parts separated by over a mile, the village, in reality little more than a hamlet, sits cheek-by-jowl with the county border arranged along a lane linking Harlow with High Wych. To the north by almost a mile and a half is the estate of Gilston Park wherein sits the parish church together with the estate buildings and a cluster of farms and cottages. Soils are excellent here for the growing of cereals and today, as in the time of this transcript, arable farming dominated the local economy. The village of Gilston sits at the confluence of the small Fiddler's Broom with the River Stort, the latter drains the parish westwards joining with the Lea to pass through the eastern portion of the capital before meeting the Thames estuary and the North Sea. Gilston is sited at around 50 metres above the sea with church & park some 15 metres higher in gently rolling countryside where local high spots rise almost to 90 metres to the northwest. Gilston parish was relatively small for a southern arable parish, covering just shy of 1,000 acres it could support around 250 parishioners. Gilston is not mentioned in Domesday Book.

The Church

As mentioned St Mary's church sits away from the notional village, on the northern edges of Gilston Park estate and surrounded by broad arable fields. Whilst there has been changes wrought since construction was completed, the church is structurally one from the Early English Gothic era of the 13th century. Good examples of the style can be seen in the characteristic lancet windows of the chancel together with the style demonstrated in the northern doorway. Also of the 13th century vintage is the northern aisle and the original fabric of the much altered nave. In the 16th century the basic 13th century western tower was heightened with a brick topping complete with its spike of spire. The major Victorian restoration of 1852 made many changes to the church, a southern aisle was added to complement the 13th century northern one, a vestry was added to the north and a porch to the south as well as a general refreshment of the remainder. A narrow winding lane heads northwards from the village, a road/pathway turns west on the northern edges of the park and the church sits on its northern side, it is narrow and care must be taken in parking not to obstruct. The churchyard is open and uncluttered from the south with no complications for the photographer.