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

The Parish

The parish of Eastwell lies in northeastern Leicestershire not too far either from its border with neighbouring Nottinghamshire but also close to that with Lincolnshire. Eastwell is located about 6 miles north of the large market town of Melton Mowbray and sits, in an extensive area of lanes with few major roads, about 2 miles west of the A607 road which connects Melton Mowbray with the Lincolnshire town of Grantham. Eastwell is a small an compact village built on the crest of a hill in ironstone countryside, the local stone being extensively used in the village and casting a honeyed glow in low sun. An essentially farming area with a mixed economy, the region is still one of small fields interspersed with tall hedges. Small becks gradually coalesce into the infant River Devon, merging eventually with the Witham and heading northward to Lincoln and the North Sea through the port of Boston. Eastwell is sited at around 150 metres above the sea and very much sits on the highest ground for miles around, the local height being just 12 metres higher on Harnby Hills. This is an area of small parishes and Eastwell was no exception, covering just over 1,300 acres it would have barely supported a population of just over 100 parishioners. In Domesday times Eastwell was an altogether different prospect, amongst the largest 40% of settlements recorded and shred between the major landowner, one Geoffrey de la Guerche, and a surprising survivor, a Saxon, Eskil. Incredibly the parish could sustain 57 ploughs and had 128 acres of meadow, woodland and no fewer than 2 mills, a complete contrast to today's quiet and sleepy rural idyll.

The Church

St Michael's church sits on the southern edge of the village on the eastern side of the lane (Scalford Road) which runs toward Melton Mowbray. The building makes much use of the local ironstone which has weathered to a rough and ready texture. The church has its origins in the 13th century and examples of the lancet windows of the Early English Gothic period are dotted around the church, the southern arcade also shows that style. Changes in the 14th century, and Decorated in style, include the southern aisle and most of the windows of the chancel. During the great church building era of the Perpendicular era a clerestory was added, presumably to improve the light within. Internally the Decorated style screen and tympanum are relatively rare survivors and worth a visit to see. Scalford Road is wide enough for a short term parking to not cause issues. The churchyard is surrounded by a low brick wall with a metal gate at the northern end of the site granting entry to a relative open churchyard with few obstacles to photography.