England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Marston St Lawrence

The Parish

The parish of Marston St Lawrence lies in southwestern Northamptonshire very close to the border with neighbouring Oxfordshire. Marston St Lawrence is located about 4 miles northwest of the market town of Brackley and 5 east of the Oxfordshire town of Banbury, it sits, in lanes, just under 2 miles north of the A422 road which connects those two places. Marston St Lawrence is a rather dispersed village covering almost a half mile from north to south in an oblong of lanes north of the hall and its estate. Marston St Lawrence would have been largely a pastoral farming community, a small-scale quarrying activity for road stone and some lace making added some diversity. Marston St Lawrence sits on the low watershed between the headwaters of the Cherwell and those of the Great Ouse, the former heading south to join the Thames, the latter heading northeast to reach the North Sea, one by the Thames Estuary the other by The Wash. Marston St Lawrence is sited at around 130 metres above the sea in gently rolling countryside which rises to the northwest to reach local heights of 184 metres on nearby Thenford Hill. This is an area of neat and compact small parishes and Marston St Lawrence is a typical representative, covering just under 1,900 acres it would have supported a population of just over 500 parishioners. In Domesday times Marston St Lawrence was held by one Earl Hugh of Chester and could offer 10 ploughs, a small meadow but did possess a mill.

The Church

St Lawrence's church sits towards the southern edge of Marston St Lawrence close to the hall and clearly once an estate church being set in an almost parkland setting. The church consists of a range of features covering the 13th through to late 14th centuries and displaying the styles of early English Gothic, Decorated and Perpendicular in turn. The southern arcade is the oldest portion and 13th century, whilst the aisle and western tower are Perpendicular and late 14th, the remainder shows the interim style of the Decorated and span a period from early to mid 14th century. The church sits close to the junction of the main north to south running lane with the lane leading to Brackley, a broad verge allows parking immediately outside of the gates. The churchyard is relatively open, only a few trees close to the western tower mar what would otherwise be a simple photographic exercise.