England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Mereworth St Lawrence

The Parish

The parish of Mereworth is located in western Kent, Mereworth is located about 7 miles west of the market town of Maidstone. Mereworth is sited at the junction of the A26 road, which runs from Maidstone to Tonbridge, with the A228, which runs from Rochester to Tunbridge Wells. Most of Mereworth lies around that junction and along the lane which heads westwards from it. Mereworth is dominated by the by the grand estate of Mereworth Castle, a Palladian edifice surrounded by a moat and extensive estates. These grounds lies to the southeast of the modern site of Mereworth. Mereworth would have had its employment opportunities largely dictated by the needs of that estate, as well as the normal agricultural activities. Mereworth sits in a shallow valley, a tributary of the Medway runs through it before joining that river at nearby Wateringbury and heading northwards to the Thames Estuary. Mereworth is sited at around 70 metres above sea level although land rises to twice that height to the northwest. The parish was of a typical size to others in the area, it covered almost 2,400 acres and supported around 800 parishioners. In Domesday times Mereworth was held by one Haimo the Sheriff and boasted 12 ploughs, 2 mills and 2 fisheries as well the normal meadows and woodlands.

The Church

St Lawrence's church sits on the southern side of the above mentioned lane which heads westwards from the main crossroads, imaginatively named The Street. The church is an 18th century rebuild after the original mediaeval building was removed from the estate, the new site is almost 3/4 mile northwest of the original. Pevsner waxes lyrical about the building despite its relatively recent origins claiming it as "the outstanding 17th century church of the county". The church leans heavily on prominent London churches in its design, the tower is reminiscent of St Martin in the Fields and the Tuscan western porch echoes St Paul at Deptford. The church is certainly a very different building to most Kent churches. The building sits behind a low ragstone wall with metal gates giving access, it is rather tight to the road on the northern side making for restricted viewing angles.