England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Kegworth St Andrew

The Parish

The parish of kegworth lies in northern Leicestershire, indeed it forms a substantial part of the border with neighbouring Nottinghamshire and is also close to Derbyshire. Kegworth is located about 7 miles northwest of the town of Loughborough on the western banks of the River Soar. Kegworth sits astride the busy A6 road which runs from London the Carlisle and the modern M1 runs through the west of the parish, just beyond the M1 lies East Midlands Airport. Kegworth is a rather large village which has expanded because of its communications links in recent times. Kegworth would have had a mixed economy, underpinned by farming (both arable and pastoral) and with framework knitting and lace making as industries as well as brewing. In mediaeval times Kegworth had a market but that status was lost as other nearby towns grew to domination. Kegworth is drained by the Soar to the north and that reaches the Trent within 3 miles and eventually the North Sea through the Humber Estuary. Kegworth is sited at around 40 metres above the sea and sits in the shallow valley of the Soar, land around is gently undulating to local heights of just over 100 metres. Kegworth parish was of a fairly typical size for the area, covering almost 2,200 acres it would have supported a population of around 1,900 parishioners. In Domesday times Kegworth was held by Earl Hugh of Chester and could offer 15 ploughs as well as small meadows and woodland.

The Church

St Andrew's church sits at the heart of Kegworth on the eastern side of the A6 as it passes through the village. Much of the church dates fro 13th and 14th centuries and shows many features of the Early English Gothic period of the early 13th century. Pevsner is rather impressed by the church, describing it as "stately". The spire-topped western tower is, of course, the most striking feature and this shows its beginnings in the 13th century but the bell openings indicate a 14th century finish. The remainder of the church has a common build and consists of nave, chancel, aisles and transepts making for a large church appropriate for a large population. The main body is largely 14th century but has been modified over the years with some windows clearly replaced in the Perpendicular style. The church received its customary Victorian restoration, in this case in the late 1850s. The church sits within a brick-walled churchyard with multiple entrances from the Derby Road (A6). The churchyard is rather dominated by trees which restrict the best views and limit photography to a reduced set of angles.