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

The Parish

The parish of Herbrandston lies in the extreme west of Pembrokeshire forming a lengthy stretch of the county's coastline with the intricate Milford Haven. Herbrandston is located roughly 3 miles west of the town of Milford Haven and sits within an area devoid of significant numbered roads, the closest being the A4078 which terminates at Milford Haven. Herbrandston is surrounded by the waters of Milford Haven on 2 sides with Sandyman Pill extending along its western flank, the village sits south of a crossroads of lanes and has been expanded by modern 20th century developments. To the south of the village lies some of Milford Haven's port structures with extensive jetties running into deeper water to service the oil & gas vessels arriving at Milford Haven's refineries which light up the sky at night. Herbrandston is visited by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Trail which hugs this intricate coastline bringing visitors and overnight stays to the village. At the time of this transcript Herbrandston was a solidly arable farming parish, today most workers are employed by the refineries or in the tourism sector. The parish church carries a semi-historical reference, Herbrandston was one of the few parishes in the land which suffered zero losses to either the First or Second World Wars making it a member of only 14 "Doubly Thankful Villages", an intricately carved reredos was given in thanks. Herbrandston is drained by Sandyman Pill into the main reach of Milford Haven and thus into the Irish Sea. Herbrandston parish covers land from sea level to 64 metres in gently undulating terrain. Covering just over 1,400 acres Herbrandston parish was not atypical of this area, that acreage would have supported a population of close to 250 parishioners. Like most of Wales Herbrandston is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

Around mid-way along the southward running lane which forms the core of the village sits a triangular village green with St Mary's church at its eastern apex. The church was built in 3 distinct phases, the initial build was of the nave in the 13th century and the Early English Gothic style. In the 14th century the chancel was built to its east in the early Perpendicular style. Finally in the late 15th century a tall western tower was constructed to the west of the nave in a later evolution of the same style. The basic footprint also has northern (added in the 16th century) & southern (a 20th century addition) porches and is all built in a mixture of local red sandstone & limestones. Between 1740 & 1770 and due to structural instability or decay, the top level of the tower was entirely dismantled and capped with a low, hipped timber roof, creating the distinctively broad appearance visible today. A new bell frame was installed inside, bearing a 1770 date mark. Further restoration came in the 20th century, 1904 both nave & chancel were completely re-roofed, the southern porch added and most of the internal fixtures & fittings replaced, further work was conducted in 1952 when the northern porch was converted to become the vestry. There is ample parking around the village green, the churchyard being only a short stroll eastwards. The churchyard is open and uncluttered with no obstacles to concern the photographer.