England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Desborough St Giles

The Parish

The parish of Desborough lies in the north of central Northamptonshire quite close to its border with neighbouring Leicestershire. Desborough is a large village situated about 6 miles northwest of the industrial market town of Kettering. Desborough is sited on the former route of the A6 road, which has now been moved to a bypass to the west of the village, this road runs from Kettering towards Leicester and indeed is part of the London to Carlisle route. Desborough has expanded considerably as a commuter village both to east and west of tits former self but is constrained by the railway line running to its north and the river meadows of the Ise to the south. Apart from a mixed farming regime on the sandy soils of the district, Desborough was also important as a centre for weaving. Desborough, as already indicated, is drained westwards by the River Ise, this runs onwards to join the Nene to the east of Wellingborough and thence to the North Sea through The Wash. Desborough is sited at around 120 metres above the sea in a gently undulating landscape, traditional hunting countryside lies around it. Desborough parish was of a typical size for the area, it covered almost 2,400 acres and supported a population of almost 1,400 parishioners. In Domesday times Desborough was shared 4 ways, the largest parcel was held by one William Peverel with smaller portions in the hands of Robert of Tosny, Count Robert of Mortain & the King himself. Desborough was a fairly small place offering around 5 ploughs but did possess a mill.

The Church

St Giles' church sits in the southwestern part of the village just to the east of the former A6 road, it sits in its own enclosure of land which the church has had to be curiously shortened in which to fit. Much of the building dates from the 13th century with styles merging from Early English into the Decorated period. The stand out feature, namely the tower, is later, Pevsner indicates a mismatch between its style, which appears 15th century, and documentary sources, which indicate it was actually from the 16th. Of a similar date is the perpendicular styled clerestory. St Giles is approached by a short road which turns south off Lower Street at the War memorial and Community centre, the churchyard is enclosed in a low brick wall and tightly surrounds the church, best views for photography are obtained from outside that precinct.