England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Hilborough All Saints

The Parish

The parish of Hilborough lies in southwestern Norfolk about 6 miles south of the market town of Swaffham. Hilborough is a small village which sits on the A1065 road which connects Suffolk through to the Suffolk town of Brandon. Whilst Hilborough has a presence on the A1065, as it winds through, most properties are built along either of two lanes which head westwards from that road. Hilborough sits on the northern edges of the area known as Breckland, a vast expanse of infertile sandy glacial deposits which created an area where the normal Norfolk arable farming regime was unproductive, here pastoral farming, in the form of sheep or warrenries farming rabbits could be found. Hilborough, however, sits on the western banks of the River Wissey and the richer pastures alongside permitted better grazing and cattle raising. Hilborough's economy was dominated by that of the Hall, the grounds occupy much of the land between the A1065 and the river. The Wissey drains the parish southwards but soon turns westwards to cross the Fens and reach the Great Ouse near Downham Market, thence to the North Sea through the Wash. Hilborough is sited at between 20 & 30 metres above the sea in fairly gentle terrain, land rises gently westwards away from the Wissey to local heights of just 50 metres or so. Hilborough parish was fairly typically sized for its area, covering close to 2,800 acres it would have supported a population of just over 300 parishioners. In Domesday times Hilborough was s substantial settlement, its population in the largest 20% of settlements recorded in that book, held by William de Warennes it could offer 11 ploughs, meadows & woodland and 3 mills.    

The Church

All Saints' church sits a quarter mile south of the village and is accessed along a roughly surfaced track eastwards from the A1065. The church spans the 14th century and the change in fashion from Decorated into Perpendicular styles. The chancel is the earlier portion and early 14th century in date, contemporary are the arcades. The remainder of the church is built in the Perpendicular style and is impressive in the use of that form. The tall western tower, very typical of Norfolk churches powered by wool-money, is a testament to the medieval wealth of the parish, like so many in this county. The use of the local knapped flint, a trade which made nearby Brandon a bustling centre, is highly skilled and together with stonework makes a pleasant chequered pattern. Documentary evidence places the completion either at the end of the 15th century whilst a will of 1516 shows repair work already in progress. The usual Victorian restoration took place in 1859 and focused on the roofs. The access track to the church starts just as the A1065 leaves a short forested area, it heads to the site of one of Hilborough's mills, there is a small area for parking by the churchyard which is open and with few obstacles for photography.