England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Salthouse St Nicholas

The Parish

The parish of Salthouse lies on Norfolk's northern North Sea coastline roughly 4 miles north of the small market town of Holt. Salthouse sits on and mostly south of the A149 road which hugs Norfolk's coastline from Cromer to Wells next the Sea. Salthouse sits upon the former coastline where land rises abruptly from the coastal salt-marshes with most properties lying either along the A149 or on lane which climb inland from it. Salthouse has a period of relative prosperity in the Middle Ages as a port but 17th century reclamation of the marshes closed its channel to the sea and today a quarter mile of grazing marsh sits between the village and the shingle bank which prevents the sea returning to its former line. Inland the parish is arable as is most of its county but the grazing marshes hold usually cattle and sheep as well as providing a home to the countless waterfowl that frequent this coastline, a major winter home for Pink-footed Geese. Inland there are also tracts of heathland within the parish which would have been exploited as common for such products as besoms and foraging pigs. The parish's drainage to the nearby sea is largely a result of that reclamation with most water funneled to Cley next the Sea and to Blakeney Harbour for its exit. Salthouse is sited at between sea level  and 20 metres above with land rising onto the heath to the south reaching 60 metres at Gravelpot Hill. Salthouse parish was typically sized for its area covering just under 1,600 acres and supporting a population of close to 250 parishioners. In Domesday times Salthouse was shared between William de Warenne and William d'Ecouis and was a wealthy holding offering 12 ploughs backed by a small meadow and some woodland, it also possessed a mill.

The Church

St Nicholas' church stands on the high ground to the south of the A149 in a commanding setting and with its tall tower acting as a navigational landmark for centuries of mariners. Like most Norfolk churches it is a product of the wealthy late-medieval period and shows the Decorated and Perpendicular styles of that era. The early 14th century western tower, which was once graced with a spire, is the earlier fabric and has Decorated styled bell-openings. The main body of the church is later and Perpendicular with a very long nave which has an extensive clerestory bearing 10 closely set windows, a typical Perpendicular feature designed to improve internal lighting. Complimenting the nave are 5-bay arcades. In contrast to the lengthy nave the chancel is only a single bay which internally leads to the ritual space spreading into the main nave, a curious arrangement. The dating of the main body is of the late 15th century, mason's dates on 1503 marking its completion. For once Pevsner does not mention a typical Victorian restoration with the only late work being the 1929 rescue of the decayed vestry. The village car park is close to the church, parking on the coastal A149 is difficult due to the visitors to this picturesque spot, allowing only a short walk to reach its churchyard which is open and carries no obstacles whatsoever for the photographer.