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

The Parish

The parish of Eccles lies in southern Norfolk not too far from its border with neighbouring Suffolk. Eccles is located about 4 miles southwest of the market town of Attleborough. Eccles sits, in lanes, about a mile east of the busy A11 road which connects the city of Norwich through Thetford to London. A small place, Eccles is a mere scatter of farms and cottages across much of the area to the west of the lane connecting Attleborough with Kenninghall. Modern developments do exist, the rail line between Norwich & Ely cuts through the parish and just over the hill the roar of engines from Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit, built upon the wartime airfield, regularly invades the quiet of this small hamlet. Eccles sits close to the edges of Norfolk's Brecklands and some pastoral farming of sheep and the use of warrenries varied the normal arable farming lifestyle of Norfolk. A small tributary of the Thet drains north then west before returning south as the full river, thence through Thetford, across The Fens to join the Great Ouse and reach the North Sea through The Wash. Eccles is sited at around 40 metres above the sea and land is at or close to that height for many miles there being little in the way of prominent features to consider as a local height. Eccles parish was typical of Norfolk's small rural parishes, it covered just under 1,700 acres and would have supported a population of close to 100 parishioners. In Domesday times Eccles was a holding of the Bishop of Thetford, a small place offering just 6 ploughs, small meadows & woodland but did possess a mill.

The Church

St Mary's church stands in isolation separated from the road system by broad fields and accessed by a rough track west of the Attleborough to Kenninghall lane. The presence of a round tower is immediate indication of an early church in Norfolk and this one Pevsner states is "probably Norman" and of the 12th century, it was restored in 1950 and this fact is typical of much of the church, early origins with extensive modification at various times. The Early English Gothic chancel from the first have of the 14th century was remodeled into the Perpendicular style in the 15th, the southern aisle of the same era was removed during the 18th century. Other features such as the northern doorway and porch received similar treatment in similar eras. As is usual the Victorian period saw further work, the eastern window being replaced in 1870 and the whole church renewed and restored in 1885. Access to the church is difficult for those on wheels, the majority, as one heads towards Kenninghall from Attleborough (Quidenham Road) a single tree marks the start of the rough track leading to St Mary, from here it is best to approach on foot. The church is almost hidden within a belt of trees, part of the grounds of the neighbouring school, and the churchyard, itself, is confined tightly by the same restricting the angles substantially that are available for photography.