England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Hodgeston Parish Church

The Parish

The parish of Hodgeston lies in the extreme south of Pembrokeshire forming a short stretch of the county's coastline with the outer Bristol Channel. Hodgeston is located roughly 3 miles southeast of the port of Pembroke and sits on the A4139 road which links Pembroke with Tenby. Hodgeston is a small village with most properties lining the A4139 and a narrow lane running southwest down to Freshwater East. The area abounds with geological interest, the beds are almost vertical to the current landscape, such that twin bands of hardy strata lie to both north and south of Hodgeston leaving the village in the vale. The limestone of the harder bands was exploited for both local building and for burning as lime to improve fields, otherwise arable farming formed the mainstay of the local economy. Hodgeston's short stretch of coastline is, of course, followed by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Trail rising over West Moor Cliff with sweeping views. Modern developments have come to the parish, the railway line from Tenby to Pembroke passing to the north without granting a station. Hodgeston is drained westwards by the infant Pembroke River which meets the ria of Milford Haven at Pembroke and thus through its expanses to the Irish Sea. Hodgeston is sited at around 20 metres above the sea with West Moor Cliff topping out at 85 metres to the south and South Hills reaching a similar height to its north. Hodgeston parish was tiny covering merely 709 acres and thus would only have supported a population of close to 50 parishioners. Like most of Wales Hodgeston is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

Hodgeston's parish church has no known dedication, it sits south of the A4139 accessed by a narrow lane headed towards the southwest. The church has been closed for worship and it  nowadays managed by the Friends of Friendless Churches trust. Whilst the thin tapering western tower is the church's main talking point it is not the oldest fabric in situ, that honour goes to 13th century nave. Early English Gothic in style the nave has a pointed barrel vault. The chancel to the east is from the Decorated period and usually is though to have been built between 1328 & 1347, it has uncommonly skilled masonry far beyond the quality of such normal small country churches. Both sedilia and piscina are excellent examples of the carving quality. The tall and spindly western tower has lower stages which are probably 15th century and Perpendicular, the upper stages are from 19th century work as is the church's southern porch. The Victorian restoration of 1856 was prompted by a visit from the Cambrian Archaeological Society who found the church in a parlous state, the work was controversial, however, as several 14th century features were destroyed. Further work on the nave was also required in the late 19th century to complete the building. The short lane leading to the metal gates of the churchyard is well-used by locals for on-street parking. The church sits too close to the southeastern, tree-beset, edge of the churchyard removing the favoured aspect, all other angles are available to the photographer.