England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Theddlethorpe St Helen

The Parish

The parish of Theddlethorpe St Helen, one of two such Theddlethorpes, lies in the extreme northeast of Lincolnshire forming a stretch of the county's North Sea coastline. Theddlethorpe St Helen is located roughly 3 miles north of the coastal resort of Mablethorpe and sits on the A1031 road which links Mablethorpe through to the port of Grimsby. The village is a loosely constructed affair with just a straggle of properties lining the course of the A1031 for almost a mile, it sits inland of an extensive sand-dune area and low-lying foreshore where tidal ranges are large revealing extensive flats. These flats were attractive to the military and for a long time following World War II until 1973 they were out-of-bounds as a bomb target range, nowadays more peaceably re-purposed as a nature reserve. Most of the parish is at or only a little above sea level with man-made drainage channels criss-crossing the landscape which would have once been largely pastoral but is much more arable today. Most of the man-made channels funnel the parish's drainage northwards, behind the dunes, to reach the North Sea through Saltfleet Haven. As already mentioned Theddlethorpe St Helen is only just above sea level and it is some distance before contours start to appear westwards, at least 7 miles before the 10 metres contour is met. Theddlethorpe St Helen parish was typically sized for its area covering just under 1,800 acres and supporting a population of close to 350 parishioners. Whilst the two Theddlethorpes  have a combined entry in Domesday Book it is readily apparent from the resources listed that the entry is for a region and not these specific manors.

The Church

St Helen's church stands alongside the A1031 roughly midway through the village, it sits on the road's eastern side at the northern end of the main range of properties. The church is built with the local greenstone giving a characteristic umber colour to its stonework which is banded with a more firm limestone. The church is in two distinct ages due to an extensive restoration which rebuilt much of the fabric. The remaining medieval fabric is confined to the nave and western tower both of which date from the latter half of the 14th century, the tower is, however, documented as having work upon "the steeple" as late as 1531. The major Victorian restoration of 1864-1867 rebuilt not only the chancel but also the aisles but consistently maintained the Perpendicular styling. A shallow lay-by is cut into the road's edge outside the churchyard permitting a car or two to safely park, the churchyard is unfenced and open to the road, sadly for the photographer it is rather well-wooded, a rarity in these areas of the county, leaving only a few choices of angle for the photographer.