England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Trelleck St Nicholas

The Parish

The parish of Trelleck, usually rendered as Trellech today, lies in eastern Monmouthshire not too far from its border, the River Wye, with neighbouring Gloucestershire and hence England. Trelleck is located roughly 5 miles south of the county town of Monmouth and sits on the B4293 road which connects Monmouth by a circuitous route with Chepstow. Today's Trelleck is a much diminished place, a mere small village of 100 or so persons lining the B4293 for around a quarter mile. Trelleck's claim to historical fame surrounds the prehistoric stones "Harold's Stones" supposed to mark a victory by Harold Godwinson, of Battle of Hastings fame, over the Welsh in 1063. Trelleck began life as a planned Norman settlement created by the noble de Clare family such that by the 13th century it had become the largest borough in its county, larger even than the port of Chepstow. A serious fire in 1296 severely damaged the town and whilst the church was repaired the town began a long decline into obscurity. Pevsner speculates that its position on a hilltop with no river access played a significant role in its decline. Documentary sources describe the former town in 1696 as a "poore inconsiderable village", by 1901 there were just 17 inhabited homes in the town. The wider parish has flourished more productively being classic Monmouthshire pastoral countryside supporting mainly cattle. Strangely with the Wye just a few miles to the east that drainage heads southwestwards from Trelleck eventually being named the Olway Brook and reaching the Usk at the town of the same name before heading south to the outer Bristol Channel arriving through the port of Newport. Trelleck sits on its hilltop at 210 metres above the sea but land continues rising westwards reaching summits such as 249 metres at Cwmcarfan Hill and an unnamed spot height of 261 metres just northwest of the village. Like many Monmouthshire parishes Trelleck parish was extensive, covering close to 5,500 acres and supporting a population, most not in the village, of around 1.100 parishioners. The River Wye forms the western boundary of Domesday recording consequently Trelleck is not mentioned in that book.

The Church

St Nicholas' church sits at the northernmost of the villages two main junctions opposite to the Lion Inn and providing a right-angled bend as the B4293 heads around its churchyard. The fire of 1296 forms a notable date as from the early 14th century and soon after that event rebuilding of the church began, and seems to have largely completed today's church in one definitive campaign. The noble steeple which graces the substantial western tower is, of course, the main talking point with the church and care was taken in its build using squared masonry rather than the rubble walling which characterises both nave and chancel. Throughout there is much use of the local red sandstone, a beautiful colour in evening sunlight. Given the length of the build both Decorated and Perpendicular styles may be found and even a few reused traces of the Norman Romanesque predecessor albeit not in original situ. Parking for the site is at the northwestern corner where 2-3 parking spaces may be found outside the gates. For the photographer this church presents little difficulty there being no major obstacles to avoid.