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

The Parish

The parish of Helmdon lies in southwestern Northamptonshire roughly 6 miles north of the market town of Brackley. Helmdon sits about a mile north of the B4525 road which links Middleton Cheney through to Syresham. Helmdon is a rather large village built around a central lane with side lanes headed off to northeast, southeast and southwest forming a rough "X" shape. There were once quarries here for the local stone but by the transcript period they had closed and Helmdon remained simply a mixed farming community with roughly equal portion of arable and pastoral methods. Modern developments have come and gone from the parish, a railway line linking Brackley with the main London to Leamington Spa line passed through but has now closed, it crossed west of Helmdon on an embankment and traces of its former route remain. Helmdon is drained eastwards by the infant River Tove which passes through Towcester before meeting the Great Ouse near Milton Keynes New Town, the latter makes a lengthy journey to reach the North Sea arriving through The Wash and the port of King's Lynn. Helmdon is sited between 125 and 150 metres above the sea, rising either side of the stream, in rolling countryside where local high spots rise to 173 metres to its southwest. Helmdon parish covered just over 1,900 acres making it typically sized for this area, it would have supported a population of close to 550 parishioners. Domesday Helmdon had just 11 households making for a small settlement held by Count Robert of Mortain, it offered 7 ploughs but had a mill.

The Church

Sr Mary's church sits at the southeastern extremity of the village on the eastern side of Church Street and almost the final building along that street. The earliest fabric lies with the chancel at the eastern end which shows the Decorated style of the early 14th century, the east window shows intersecting tracery proving it is earlier than the remaining windows all showing reticulated tracery. Moving westwards the nave is Perpendicular and from the later 14th century, it is flanked by 3-bay arcades with octagonal piers and double-chamfered arches. Completing the church is the western tower, whilst undoubtedly created in similar times to the remainder of the church it was completely rebuilt in Georgian times finishing in 1823. The church received the almost customary Victorian restoration, here in 1876 and a thorough is sensitive piece of work. The church shares a sloping driveway with a neighbouring cottage, it is possible to park without blocking their access. Sadly for the photographer the church sits close to the southern edges of the churchyard leaving limited views from the regular aspects, further large trees crowd to the north so only a few angles remain for the photographer.