England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Walton East St Mary Magdalene

The Parish

The parish of Walton East lies almost centrally within Pembrokeshire roughly 7 miles northeast of the market town of Haverfordwest. Walton East sits just over a mile south of the B4329 road which links Haverfordwest with Eglwyswrw across the Preseli Mountains. Walton East is a small and compact village sitting on an east to west running lane which performs a set of right-angled bends as it passes around the churchyard. Walton East occupies a hilltop site above the reservoir of Llys y Fran reservoir with commanding views across to the Preselis to the northeast. With its western location pastoral farming would naturally dominate the local farming methods but some hardy cereals and root crops were also grown. Walton East is drained southwards by the Afon Syfynwy which exits the reservoir and heads south and southeast to meet the Eastern Cleddau, here water turns back southwest before reaching the Irish Sea through the ria of Milford Haven. Walton East is sited at around 130 metres above the sea, its hilltop, however, is over-topped northwards by 60 metres on hills reaching just short of 200 metres. Covering just under 1,900 acres Walton East was typically sized for its area and would have supported a population of close to 250 parishioners. Like most of Wales Walton East is not mentioned in Domesday Book which did not cover this area.

The Church

St Mary's church sits at the heart of the small village sitting within a circular "llan", a sign of an early Christian site. Sadly the medieval church which one stood here has been replaced by today's church which was completed in 1853. The previous church is described in early gazetteers as a "very small rude edifice, consisting only of a nave, without tower or spire", a rather churlish sentiment. The replacement church consists of a standard nave and chancel augmented with a porch and a neat western bellcote all built in a grey Preseli dolerite. The designers, rather than opting for the once again fashionable Early English Gothic style have elected to add Decorated styled tracery to the windows. Outside the gates there is ample parking for a few vehicles, the church, however, sits tight to the southern edge of the churchyard leaving only the northern aspects available and making for a tricky subject on a sunny day.