England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Eagle All Saints

The Parish

The parish of Eagle lies in western Lincolnshire forming a stretch of the county's border with neighbouring Nottinghamshire. Eagle is located roughly 7 miles southwest of the city of Lincoln, it sits in an area devoid of significant numbered roads, the closest such road being the A46 connecting Lincoln with Newark on Trent which lies almost 4 miles to Eagle's south. Eagle is a small and compact village built around a staggered junction of lanes, the main street running northeast to southwest with most properties lying along it. Like most Lincolnshire parishes arable farming dominates the rather flattish landscape with cereals beet and oil seed the main crops set in broad and largely hedge-less fields. Modern developments have come to the area, the railway line between Newark and Lincoln passing through the southern part of the parish without grating Eagle a station. Eagle is drained eastwards by the Pike Drain which meets the River Witham to the west of Lincoln before the latter passes through the city, turn southeast and eventually reaches the North Sea through the port of Boston. Eagle is sited at around 25 metres above the sea, land is largely at that level for some distance with just a single low hill to Eagle's southwest reaching 35 metres to become the local high point. Covering just over 1,200 acres Eagle parish was fairly typically sized for its area, that acreage would have supported a population of around 450 parishioners. Domesday Eagle was equally a small and rural holding with the main body held by Countess Judith it offered 8 plough backed by typical meadows & woodland.

The Church

All Saints' church sits on the western edges of the village accessed along the dead-end lane of Church Lane. Sadly the church described by early gazetteers as "an ancient structure" is largely no more - only the 13th century western tower in the Early English Gothic styles remaining of that original church which would have been the venue for these marriages. It should be noted that Pevsner in some suspicion points to a quoin on its southwestern corner bearing a mason's date of 1734 but this is probabyl a record of restoration rather than originality. The main body of nave and chancel augmented by a northern aisle and southern porch is ultra-modern dating from 1904 as a rebuild, lancet styled windows of the 13th century styling are shown in both nave and chancel to mimic the lost medieval component. Church Lane is narrow and has few parking spots, it is better to park on the main street and walk to the church. Wooden gates grant entry to a churchyard which is open and uncluttered with no obstacles whatsoever for the photographer.