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

The Parish

The parish of Burton lies in central southern Pembrokeshire, indeed it forms part of Pembrokeshire's intricate southern coastline as it fronts the convoluted course of Milford Haven. Burton lies about 3 miles north of the town of Pembroke, previously accessible by ferry and now by the modern Cleddau Bridge. Burton is a small and compact village sitting about a mile east of the A477 which runs over the Cleddau Bridge en route from Pembroke to Haverfordwest. Burton has a long history, settled by the Normans who built the castle of Burton Castle about a mile and a half northeast in the 13th century, its bright white painting of the 1770s make it something of a local landmark particularly from the water. With its small pier Burton would have varied its economy from the local arable agriculture & undoubtedly some earned their living from the sea. As a coastal community the parish sits on the estuary and only small brooks drain the immediate surroundings. Burton village is sited at around 50 metres above the sea with its main lane running steeply down to the estuary and pier. Burton parish was of a fairly typical size for south Pembrokeshire, it covered just under 3,400 acres and would have supported a population of about 850 parishioners. Like most of Wales Burton is not mentioned in Domesday Book as that tome did not cover this area.

The Church

St Mary's church sits at the upper, northern, end of the village on the eastern side of Church Road. St Mary has its origins in the 13th century displaying some features of the Early English Gothic style, the western tower is 14th or early 15th century whilst the southern porch is dateable to the 16th. In short a typical church much modified over the centuries. There was a major overhaul in 1867 which added the aisle which almost swallowed up the northern transept whilst replacing many of the windows albeit retaining the Early English Gothic lancet style. The church sits in an elevated position above Church Road and is accessed by a flight of steps rising from metal gate in the local stone wall. The site is almost completely open so there are no restrictions to photographic angles.