England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Sidestrand St Michael

The Parish

The parish of Sidestrand lies in the extreme northeast of Norfolk, indeed it forms part of Norfolk's North Sea coast. Sidestrand is located about 3 miles southeast of the seaside resort of Cromer. Sidestrand is relatively compact and small, forming a strip along the narrow coastal road and grouped around its hall. The area is largely devoted to arable farming, there being low sandy cliffs there has not been potential for seaside resort development. The coast here is rapidly eroding and several buildings have had to be moved or allowed to fall into the sea. Despite being only 1/4 mile from the sea Sidestrand is located at almost 60 metres above sea level, the cliffs being 40 metres high in places. There is little surface drainage due to the porous sandy soils but what water there is drains southeastwards to emerge at the North Sea through Mundesley. The parish is rather small, even for Norfolk, being a mere 440 acres, diminishing still with every winter storm, and it supported a little over 150 parishioners. In Domesday times the parish was held by one William of Warenne and supported 7 ploughs as well as possessing small meadows and woodland.

The Church

St Michael's church sits just alongside (on the eastern side) the narrow coastal road where a track leaves to go to the hall. There church is one of the buildings that have had to be moved inland due to imminent loss to the sea. In 1881 the building was rebuilt, mostly new but reusing much from the original building as well as replicating the style e.g. the round tower. The original site of the church is now beneath the North Sea. The church sits behind a rather neat brick and tiled topped flint wall, entrance being through metal gates. There are mature trees at the western end by the road but otherwise the site is very open making for easy photography.