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

The Parish

The parish of North Scarle lies in western Lincolnshire forming a stretch of the border, here formed by the River Trent, with neighbouring Nottinghamshire. North Scarle lies about 10 miles southwest of the the city of Lincoln and a similar distance north of the Nottinghamshire town of Newark on Trent. North Scarle is a mid-sized and compact village which sits a mile or so east of the A1133 road which parallels the Trent forming part of the route connecting Newark with Gainsborough. This is a fairly typical Lincolnshire farming settlement, dominated by arable and with vast fields covering the largely flat land of the Trent plain. Largely man-made drains take water the short distance to the Trent which heads northwards to reach the North Sea through the Humber Estuary. North Scarle is sited at under 10 metres above the sea and in this flat land one has to travel over 3 miles to reach a 30 metres contour. North Scarle parish was fairly typically sized for this area, covering 1,600 acres it would have supported a population of just under 500 parishioners. North Scarle is not specifically mentioned in Domesday Book.

The Church

All Saints' church sits at the southern end of the village High Street in a junction setting with Church Lane. The bulk of the church is in the Early English Gothic styles fashionable in the first half of the 13th century but there exceptions both earlier and later. An earlier church is indicated by a remnant capital in the northern aisle whilst later modifications have added styles from later periods. The western tower has had bell-opening replaced in the later Decorated style and castellated capitals from the Perpendicular period. In addition the chancel was also extensively modified during the latter period. The usual Victorian restoration took place, here in the 1890s when the northern aisle was added as well as refreshing other parts of the church. The High Street heading south to the church has room for parking, it narrows markedly after the junction, a wooden gateway leads to the churchyard which is open, uncluttered and with no obstacles to photography.