England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
St Michael on Wyre St Michael

The Parish

The parish of St Michael on Wyre lies in western part of the portion of Lancashire south of Morecambe Bay. St Michael on Wyre is located about 10 miles north of the large industrial town of Preston. St Michael on Wyre is a substantial village which sits on the A586 road which connects Blackpool with the A6 near Garstang and is sited at that road's crossing of the River Wyre. St Michael on Wyre is traditionally viewed as one of the earliest places where Christianity was introduced to the area and the settlement has clearly been present since well before the Norman Conquest. The area is dominated by pastoral farming with neat fields between hedges crisscrossing the landscape. The Wyre is here raised within levees as, having risen on the high fells to the east, it runs out onto the coastal plain that characterises this portion of the county. The Wyre drains westwards the few miles to reach the Irish Sea through the port of Fleetwood. St Michael on Wyre is sited at just 3 metres above the sea and sits on a fertile plain at or slightly above that height for some distance. St Michael on Wyre parish, like many in this area of the county, was rather extensive, indeed it was reckoned to be the third largest in extent within the county at almost 19,000 acres. The parish, however, also included within it the chapelry of Woodplumpton. Collectively the wider parish would have supported around 4,800 parishioners. In Domesday times this area of Lancashire was not directly detailed as to its assets, St Michael on Wyre was held directly by King William and raised taxes of 171 geld units making it a medium sized parish for tax purposes.

The Church

St Michael's church sits on the southern side, the less populated side, of the River Wyre within yards of the crossing by the A586. Of the early Christian church nothing remains and what exists today is the usual mixture of mediaeval styles. The earliest parts of the building are 13th century, Pevsner cites the western respond of the south aisle as being the earliest feature. The chancel windows show a 14th century style whilst much else is Perpendicular and late Perpendicular at that. Documentary evidence shows the western tower as having been the subject of donations to build dated in 1549, a late date for the style. The church sits on the eastern side of the A586, here named Blackpool Lane, set back behind a low wall and neatly clipped hedges, there are quite a few trees around and these prevent the best views from the south to a degree.