England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Aylsham St Michael

The Parish

The parish of Aylsham lies in northeastern Norfolk roughly 12 miles north of the city of Norwich. Aylsham formerly sat on the course of the A140 road connecting Norwich with the coastal resort of Cromer but thankfully that road now bypasses to Aylsham's east. Aylsham is a market town, it was first granted in 1296, a regional centre for trade and specialist skills and previously a stronghold for weaving. The initial prosperity of the town came from the manufacture of linen, so well-known they acquired the name "Aylsham Web", as this trade lapsed in the 15th century it became noted for the weaving of wool for worsted cloth. Like most of Norfolk's rural parishes the wider portion of Aylsham parish would have also been arable with early gazetteers estimate over 80% of the parish acreage as arable. The mechanisation of northern mill-towns in the industrial revolution saw Aylsham's weaving trade collapse like the remainder of its county and the town became merely a market. Attempts were made to boost income by the canalisation of the River Bure, on which it sits, such that vessels up to 40 tons burden could arrive from Great Yarmouth, that has now lapsed. The other modernisation of the town arrived with 2 lines belonging to the Midland & Great Northern Railway connecting Aylsham with Wroxham, North Walsham, Reepham and their main junction and depot at Melton Constable, all sadly close nowadays except for the line from Wroxham not the course of a miniature heritage steam line. To replace the lost industry there is only a small industrial estate but the town retains its central market place and most of its specialist and essential shops and inns. In modern times commuter development and modern estates have expanded its footprint such that it now covers an oval of land 2 miles from north to south and a mile from east to west. Aylsham is drained southeastwards by the River Bure, one of Broadland's major rivers, it makes its own way across the Norfolk Broads and arrives independently into Great Yarmouth east of Breydon Water and thence to the North Sea. Aylsham is sited mostly on the southwestern slopes of the Bure's valley rising from 10 metres at the river to 30 metres in its higher suburbs, the landscape is rather gentle rising westwards to just reach the 50 metres contour in a few spots. Aylsham parish was a giant in Broadland terms, swamping the local network of tiny parishes, it covered just over 4,300 acres and would have supported a population of around 2,450 parishioners. Already by Domesday times Aylsham was large enough to sit within the top 20% of settlements by population in the land; held directly by King William it was a very wealthy manor offering an impressive 31 ploughs, meadows & woodland no fewer than 4 mills.

The Church

St Michael's church sits northwest of the market place but is connected by a through route part of a triangle of walkways enclosing the church, it sits west of the Cromer Road, the former course of the A140 before the bypass. Externally the church appears to be one entirely of the 14th and later centuries, it takes Pevsner trip into the interior to recognise an earlier origin for St Michael. The 6-bay arcades have alternating octagonal and circular piers from the end of the Early English Gothic period, earlier than any portion of the exterior and from the late 13th century. Much of the fabric of the remainder is a mixture of the later style, Decorated & Perpendicular and very typical in a Norfolk church. Both the tower arch and much of the tower that sits above it are from the earlier Decorated style of the first half of the 14th century, its lead-covered spirelet is believed to be 18th century. Surrounding the core of the nave and chancel there are numerous Perpendicular additions, the transepts and chancel chapels being the main elements, an inscription indicates the northern chapel as completed by 1377. Also Perpendicular and rather lavish is the 2-storey southern porch built at the request and expense of the then Sheriff of Norwich. The church, of course, received a Victorian restoration, here it fell between 1842 & 1852 and was rather drastic according to Pevsner tackling mostly windows and the internal seating. Later in 1885 the chancel was re-roofed as part of a further restoration. Unless your visit coincides with the Tuesday market or the bustle of Saturdays one can usually find a space in the market place converted to car park on other days, there are multiple other places within easy walking distance to find parking. The approach from the market place has the benefits of glimpsing the church before the full reveal, despite the urban setting the church has enough clear space all around to allow unfettered access for the photographer.