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

The Parish

The parish of Stradsett lies in western Norfolk about 4 miles east of the market town of Downham Market. Stradsett is a tiny place, with no distinct village, which sits on the A1122 road which connects Downham Market with Swaffham. Stradsett was a "closed parish" where all land was held by a single landholder who restricted inbound migration thus no village developed. The parish is dominated by Stradsett Hall and its surrounding parkland, a few properties line the A1122 with scattered farms elsewhere. The economy of the parish would have been dominated by the affairs of estate, in this case a mixed farming regime would have been in place with both arable and pastoral farming in roughly equal measure. Stradsett is drained to the southeast by small streams headed to join the nearby River Wissey, on reaching that river matters turn westward to head out into Norfolk's Fenland and the Great Ouse before turning north to reach the North Sea through The Wash. Stradsett is sited at around 20 metres above the sea in rather gentle terrain where local heights fail to reach 40 metres for some considerable distance. Stradsett parish was fairly typically sized for its area, covering just over 1,300 acres it would have supported a population of around 200 parishioners. In Domesday times Stradsett was equally unremarkable, held mostly by one Hermer de Ferrers it could offer just 4 ploughs, a small meadow and a half share in a fishery.

The Church

St Mary's church sits within the confines of Stradsett Park accessed by the main driveway from the south headed north off the A1122. St Mary has its origins in the 13th century and despite an extensive restoration funded by the Bagge family of the Hall much still remains from that period. The southern doorway shows the Early English Gothic styling of its period whilst the main example of this period is the unbuttressed western tower, albeit with a later, and Perpendicular, top stage. Also from that 15th century renovation one finds the east window of the chancel. Most else is masked by the substantial Victorian restoration of 1891 which as well as adding a porch to the 13th century doorway renonewed most of the windows as well as generally refreshing much of the nave and chancel. The turning into the access drive is rather intimidating, but is a public right of way, with formal gates appearing private. The approach from the east requires care as it is just before a bend in the busy road which can cause issues. A roughly surfaced driveway leads to a small parking area by the churchyard, the church sits tight to the southern boundary of that churchyard removing the favoured southeastern aspect and making for something of a challenge on a sunny day.