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

The Parish

The parish of Great Massingham lies in western central Norfolk about 8 miles southwest of the market town of Fakenham and 7 east of the port of King's Lynn. Great Massingham is situated in lanes about 3 miles south of the A148 road which connects Fakenham with King's Lynn. Great Massingham is a large village that once almost became a market town, its market is no longer in operation. A substantial settlement which runs for almost 3/4 of a mile along its main north to south running lane. Great Massingham's greatest asset is its extensive village greens, a delightful series of greens running alongside that lane. At the time of this transcript Great Massingham would have been a farming community, largely arable but with sheep walks and warrenries too. There is little surface drainage within the parish, just field drains and man-made watercourses, what there is heads eastward to join the infant River Wensum which joins the Yare at Norwich and reaches the North Sea through the port of Great Yarmouth. Great Massingham is sited at around 80 metres above the sea and stands on a shallow ridge of land which is followed by the close by Peddar's Way trail, an ancient trackway from Roman or pre-Roman times. Norfolk parishes are rather small but Great Massingham was one of the larger, it covered just over 4,100 acres and would have supported a population of around 850 parishioners. IN Domesday times Great Massingham (enumerated together with its smaller Little neighbour) was held by one Guy of Anjou, it was a relatively small place having just 7 plough, a small meadow and a shared salthouse.

The Church

ST Mary's church sits alongside, on the eastern side, of Great Massingham's main north to south lane. The church has its origins in the early 13th century showing much that is Early English Gothic in style. The chancel, arcades and southern porch all show features of this early period. The church was, however, much modified during the great church-building era that saw the Perpendicular style in the 15th century. The great tower is St Mary's crowning glory from this period, its 4 stages towering literally above the remainder of the church. Like most churches the 19th century saw a major restoration in this case in 1863. St Mary stands behind a chest-height flint and brick wall with white gates granting access, it is masked by mature trees from the road. Trees also hem the building from the southern aspect, the traditionally photography angle is thus restricted somewhat.