England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Bosherston St Michael & All Angels

The Parish

The parish of Bosherston is the most southerly in the county of Pembrokeshire and forms a lengthy stretch of the county's Outer Bristol Channel coastline. Bosherston is located roughly 6 miles south of the port of Pembroke and stands a little over 2 miles south of the B4319 road which connects Pembroke through to Angle. Bosherston is merely a short run of properties running for less than a quarter mile each side of the village's church along a lane which parallels the inlet running inland from the bay of Broad Haven. This is a wild and picturesque coastline with intricate and contorted geology with beds lying almost vertical due to folding, a medley of sea stacks, caverns and thrilling cliff-tops, the whole coastline being explored  by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Trail. Sadly the remoteness and character of this area has made it attractive to the military which many areas closed for tank training. At the time of this transcript Bosherston would have earned its living from a combination of pastoral farming and fishing, today most of its income derives from its great beauty and tourism. A noted site lies to its east where lily ponds grace the channels of 3 arms in a trident shape but now fresh water due to the sand bar closing the former outlet to the sea. As a coastal settlement Bosherston is readily drained into the Bristol Channel. Bosherston is sited at between sea level and 30 metres at its church, further west a spot height of 57 metres marks the highest land in the area. Bosherston parish was typically sized for its area covering just under 1,700 acres and supporting a population of close to 200 parishioners. Like most of Wales Bosherston is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

St Michael's church lies midway through the village at the entrance to the lane running down to its famous "Lily Ponds" and sitting on the eastern side of the village's main lane. The oldest part of the church is its nave which shows the 13th century styling of the Early English Gothic, to this early nave are attached transepts which appear to be slightly later and early14th century Decorated in style. The church's stand-out feature is the curiously thin and tapering western tower which is of slightly uncertain dating, Perpendicular in style it is either late 14th century or early 15th. More definitely 15th century is the southern porch in the same style. A typical Victorian restoration came in 1856 at the expense of the local Lord Cawdor of nearby Stackpole Court which replaced many windows adding to the feel of the 13th century by copying that style.. There is a car park for visitors to the Lily Ponds but for shorter visits a couple of vehicles may safely sit alongside the churchyard without blocking the way. The churchyard, itself, is open and uncluttered with no obstacles for the photographer whatsoever.