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

The Parish

The parish of Westwell lies in the extreme west of Oxfordshire, indeed it has the distinction of being the westernmost parish in its county and consequently forms a stretch of the border with neighbouring Gloucestershire. Westwell is located just over 2 miles southwest of the small market town of Burford and sits a similar distance west of the A361 road which connects Burford with Lechlade. Westwell is a small and compact village with an attractive green, complete with village pond, at its centre. The local economy is largely dominated by farming but here a mixed regime of both arable & pastoral would have held sway at the time of this transcript, the farming has moved significantly more arable in modern times. Westwell is drained east then south by the Shill Brook which heads onward to reach the Thames, here matters turn east through Oxford & the capital to reach the North Sea. Westwell is sited at around 120 metres above the sea in gently undulating countryside where land rises still further westwards to a local height of 155 metres. By the standards of this area Westwell parish was rather small, covering just under 900 acres it would have only supported a population of a little under 200 parishioners. In Domesday times Westwell was held by one Poyntz's son Walter and could muster 7 ploughs and a small set of pastures.

The Church

St Mary's church lies to the northwest of the village green accessed by rough track from that central point. An ancient church that retains much of its history. The main body of the church shows the Norman Romanesque style of the 12th century and Norman is also present in the southern doorway, with its zigzag carvings, and also in the vestry walls. A few changes can be seen from that early origin, the chancel arch appears to have been reworked and the chancel also has Early English Gothic lancet style windows whilst the porch is 14th century. A Victorian restoration of 1869 added not only the bell turret to the western end and also saw the nave fenestration replaced. Parking should be sought at the green and the church approached on foot. The churchyard has a large tree occupying the favoured southeastern aspect but is otherwise open for photography from all other angles.