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

The Parish

The parish of Letchworth lies in the extreme north of Hertfordshire not too far from the border with neighbouring Bedfordshire. Letchworth is located roughly 3 miles northeast of the town of Hitchin and stands just south of the A505 road which connects Hitchin with Baldock. Letchworth is a much changed place, at the time of this transcript it was a tiny estate parish of around 100 parishioners barely distinguished from neighbouring Willian, the hall, the church and a handful of estate cottages and farmsteads. In 1903 the area encompassing Letchworth, Norton & William was chosen to become the first "Garden City", a concept designed to revolutionise the idea of city living based upon semi-rural environment with segregated living, working, shopping & leisure areas. Following a competition won by architects Barry Parker & Raymond Unwin land was purchased and by 1905 the first areas had been built, despite being the smallest of the 3 communities Letchworth gave its name to "Letchworth Garden City". Today Letchworth Garden City occupies a circular area, bordered by the A1M motorway & Baldock to its east, roughly 2 miles in diameter and whilst not as successful in attracting industry as intended it has grown to hold a population of close to 35,000. At the time of this transcript a simple estate farming parish growing mainly cereals has become a significant urban centre. Essential to the City's development has been modern infrastructure, the railway line between Hitchin & Baldock passes through granting a station whilst to the east the former A1, Great North Road, has been upgraded to motorway standard connecting the area with the capital. Letchworth is drained northwards by tributaries of the infant River Ivel which continues north to meet the Great Ouse between Sandy & St Neots, the latter river heads across Fenland to reach the North Sea through the Norfolk port of King's Lynn & The Wash. Letchworth is sited at around 80 metres above the sea in "Old Letchworth", land rises to 100 metres to the southeast by the A1M before rising still further onto the chalk hills east of the motorway where a spot height of 145 is the highest ground around. The original parish of Letchworth was one of the smaller parishes in the county covering just 1,000 acres and supporting close to 100 parishioners. In Domesday times Letchworth, a holding of one Rober Gernon had just 15 households and assets of 7 ploughs backed by a small meadow and a woodland patch.

The Church

St Mary's church sits just south of Letchworth Lane and northeast of the former Letchworth Hall, converted to become a hotel by the Garden City company. This tiny flint church dating back to the earliest times has been effectively usurped by St Michael the Archangel with the Garden City area. The nave is the earliest fabric being from the 12th century and Norman Romanesque in style. The chancel, lower in height than the nave, dates from the following century judging by the Early English Gothic styled window. The church has no tower merely a timber bell-turret which was first added in the 14th century, a casting date on one of the bells confirms its existence before it was substantially rebuilt during the 16th century, the timbers needed further replacement in the 20th century due to attack from death-watch beetles. During the Perpendicular era the church was re-roofed and the gabled southern porch added, presumed to be 15th century. Restoration came in the early 20th century in a phase from c1908-10, the proposed vestry was never built but the existing fabric refreshed. Letchworth Lane has ample width for on-street parking outside the churchyard gates, the church is set quite a way back from the lane with a pathway crossing the churchyard to it, given the size of that churchyard it is disappointing for the photographer to find the church tight to the southern boundary removing the favoured aspects, all other angles are available, however.