England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Chacombe St Peter & St Paul

The Parish

The parish of Chacombe, some early sources render it as Chalcombe, lies in the extreme southwest of Northamptonshire forming a lengthy stretch of the county's border with neighbouring Oxfordshire. Chacombe is located roughly 4 miles northeast of the historic Oxfordshire town of Banbury and sits around a mile east of the A361 road which links Banbury with Daventry. Chacombe is a mid-sized and compact village sitting almost on the county border most properties are bunched along a lane running west to east with an extension along the southeastward lane headed towards Middleton Cheney. The parish has more in common with the Cotswolds than much of its county, the local stone being much used in the village buildings was extensively quarried whilst farming was almost equally mixed between arable and pastoral methods, the village had a good reputation for the quality of its milk even supplying the capital. Modern developments came and went from the parish, a branch railway line headed northeast from Banbury, linking two north to south routes, has closed and been largely dismantled. Small brooks take water from the parish westwards into the nearby River Cherwell which heads south through Banbury to eventually meet the Thames, after passing through London it reaches the North Sea through the Thames estuary. Chacombe is sited at around 110 metres , a 40 metres rise immediately south is an ancient escarpment which reaches 180 metres at Thenford Hill to the east. Chacombe parish at around 1,650 acres was fairly typically sized for its area, within that acreage it would have supported a population of around 500 parishioners. In Domesday times Chacombe was a holding of the Bishop of Lincoln and a fairly wealthy holding too, 10 ploughs and some meadows were unexceptional but having 3 mills was impressive for a rural holding.

The Church

St Peter & St Paul's church is set back behind fronting properties on the northwestern edges of the village and is accessed by footpaths. The church is a fairly typical representative of the 14th century augmented by later medieval embellishments and by typical Victorian (over) restoration. The core of the church dates from the early 14th century, the period when the Decorated style was in vogue. From that era the arcades especially drew Pevsner's interest being original in their design, also from the same period one finds the chancel arch and southern porch noted by Pevsner although most of the core of nave and chancel is of the same or similar age. The later addition from the Perpendicular period is the lichen-covered western tower which dates from the later Perpendicular of the 15th century. The typical Victorian restoration here dates from 1856 and whilst extensive Pevsner fails to mention significant additions to the fabric. Parking should be sought in the main village where Church Lane, not suitable for vehicles, leaves beside the George & Dragon Inn. A short walk leads to the churchyard which has few obstacles for the photographer.