England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Leicester St Martin

The Parish

Leicester is an ancient city, probably of pre-Roman foundation, and capital of its county. The city is divided into a number of parishes, and several extra-parochial areas, of which St Martin is one of the smaller by both population and area. The "cester" in its name indicates that it was a town of considerable importance in Roman times, as a major city of the kingdom of Wessex it was considered one of England's top 5 centres. Leicester is almost 100 miles northwest of London and at the heart of the East Midlands is still one of its major cities. St Martin's parish consists of much of the southern centre of the city and contains the site of the city's Town Cross, the original city centre from which distances were measured. The parish is set at about 60 metres above sea level and sits east of  the River Soar which passes through the western bounds of the city. Leicester grew substantially during England's industrial revolution, particularly trades involving the cotton spinning and manufacture of clothing. Leicester became a city & St Martin its cathedral in 1927. St Martin's parish covered a square shape between High Cross Street and Church Gate, a relatively small acreage yet within that small area a population of close to 3,000 would have resided. Today much of St Martin's area is dominated by the largely pedestrianised commercial shopping centre of the city. As befits a major city Leicester has a very detailed entry in Domesday Book covering details of the properties and rental attributable to the King.

The Church

St Martin's church, today's Leicester Cathedral occupies a large and relatively open space roughly 200 metres east of the city's busy dual-carriageway ring-road. There are fine views from the south across St Martin's Square whilst to the north its northern face is tight to Guildhall Lane. Outwardly the church appears to be relatively modern a function of the extensive work done in Victorian times but Pevsner goes beneath that skin and reveals a much older building hiding within. A single 12th century trace is noted at the eastern end of the northern aisle whilst the pair of arcades are 13th century. Whilst both nave and chancel are both certainly medieval in origin changes wrought have masked their original dates, what is known is that the nave was extensively modified and lengthened in the 15th century.  The triumphant central crossing tower topped by a rare Leicestershire spire is Victorian work and replaced a Norman Romanesque original, the tower of 1861 and the spire 6 years later. Work had started as early as 1846 on a lengthy series of changes in Victorian times resulting in today's edifice. Like most city churches visitors are advised to take local parking areas and visit the site on foot. As stated the best angles for the photographer are from across the pedestrianised square, the church (cathedral) is largely hemmed in by other premises from most other angles.