England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Tallington St Lawrence

The Parish

The parish of Tallington lies in the extreme south of Lincolnshire, indeed it forms part of the border with neighbouring Northamptonshire and is also close to the border with neighbouring Rutland. Tallington is situated about 4 miles east of the market town of Stamford on the northern banks of the River Welland. Tallington is a small and compact village sitting astride the A1175 road (formerly A16) which connects Stamford with Market Deeping. Much of Tallington is built along the main road or in small extensions both to its north and south. The area would have been largely used for pastoral farming as it is low lying and poorly drained. The works of man are abundant in the form of drains, cuts and flooded workings (now the Tallington Lakes Leisure Park). The Welland drains the parish eastwards and eventually reaches the North Sea through The Wash. Tallington is sited at just 15 metres above sea level and much of the local landscape is about the same height or marginally higher. The Fenland area of Lincolnshire has typically large parishes but Tallington is more typical of one from the Wolds, it covered just under 1,800 acres and would have supported a population of around 250 parishioners. In Domesday times Tallington was shared between one Alfred of Lincoln and one Robert of Tosny, the parish could offer 9 ploughs some meadow and a mill.

The Church

St Lawrence's church sits to the south of the A1175 just to the west of the narrow lane running to Bainton. The church is large and shows many early features although the evolution of the church was a rather thorny problem for Pevsner as it indicated contrary changes in design over the years. In date order the church possesses a relict (perhaps reused Norman doorway, the arcades are from the early English era of the early 13th century, much else is of the Decorated era of the early 14th century including the western tower whilst some later features are Perpendicular. The church sits on the southern side of Church Lane almost on the banks of the Welland, a low brick wall encloses the churchyard and entry is by a set of wooden gates off Church Lane. The churchyard's western end is rather enveloped in trees making the best views from the east for photography.