England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
East Carleton St Mary

The Parish

The parish of East Carleton lies in the eastern portion of central Norfolk roughly 5 miles southwest of the city of Norwich. East Carleton sits around a mile west of the B1113 road which links Norwich with a string of villages as far as New Buckenham. Modern day East Carleton is a mere straggle of properties lying along an east to west running lane, a far cry from its Domesday size and a village which once supported twin parish churches within 50 metres of each other. Much of the parish acreage is occupied by the grounds of East Carleton Manor albeit the manor, itself, is only from 1964. Like most Norfolk parishes East Carleton would have been an arable farming parish, the soils being especially suited to the growing of high quality wheat & barley. At the time of this transcript a more rotational policy would have pertained but today cereal fields dominate the landscape permanently. East Carleton is drained northwards by a small stream which joins the River Yare on the outskirts of southern Norwich, the Yare heads eastwards to the North Sea arriving through the port of Great Yarmouth. East Carleton is sited at around 40 metres above the sea in very gentle terrain where spot heights in excess of 50 metres are something of a rarity. In a county with many small parishes East Carleton was such a parish, covering only 850 acres in supported a population of close to 300 parishioners. In stark contrast to today's status in Domesday times East Carleton had 58 properties and a population large enough to place it amongst the largest 20% of settlements recorded in that book, shared by no fewer than 5 landholders (including a real rarity, a free man) the manor offered 14 plough, meadows & woodland and there was also a mill.

The Church

St Mary's church sits north of Rectory Road, the main east-to-west running lane, tucked away behind fronting properties. Whilst the church has its origins in the 13th century very little of the medieval remains following extensive restorations during the 19th and early 20th century. The only whole piece of fabric referred as 13th century and Early English Gothic, in Pevsner's account, is the northern aisle although he mentions the century as the origin. Early 14th century and Decorated in style is the southern doorway and the 3-bay arcade has 14th century double-chamfered arches incongruously atop 19th century piers. A thorough restoration of 1881 made significant changes impacting most of the external appearance but it was only the first of three such interventions. In 1895 the western tower was completely rebuilt, albeit incorporating the Tudor brickwork, and given its topmost bell-stage. Finally in 1915 a new porch was added to enclose the aforementioned southern doorway. The former church of St Peter, now a ruin, sat 50 yards east of St Mary, it was ruined as early as the 16th century. From Rectory Road, where parking may be found, a long shaded path flanked by mature horse-chestnut trees leads eventually to the churchyard which has few obstacles for the photographer.