England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Barrowden St Peter

The Parish

The parish of Barrowden lies in the extreme south of Rutland forming a lengthy stretch of the county's border, here formed by the course of the River Welland, with neighbouring Northamptomnshire. Barrowden is located roughly 7 miles southwest of the Lincolnshire town of Stamford and sits just under a mile south of the A47 road which links Peterborough with Leicester. Barrowden is a mid-sized and compact village, two lanes form an "eye" shape with most properties lying between the two as they diverge and rejoin to both west and east, the main street being that closest to the Welland. The area was noted for its raising of sheep and the preparation of sheep-skin for rugs as well as other products such as parchment, glue & leather were by-products for the book industry. Besides raising sheep the parish would also have had good acreage of arable land too. Modern developments have come and gone from Barrowden, a winding rural railway line heading westwards from Peterborough once passed through granting Northamptonshire's companion village of Wakerley a station but like many rural lines only the easternmost portion remains as a steam heritage line, the Nene Valley Railway. The Welland drains Barrowden eastwards passing through Stamford & Spalding en route to the North Sea arriving through The Wash. Barrowden is sited on a rising valley slope, the lowest properties at 45 metres the uppermost at 70 metres above the sea, in rolling countryside the A47 rises to a local high spot of 127 metres at nearby Glaston to the west. Barrowden parish was fairly typically sized for its area, covering almost 2,000 acres it would have supported a population of around 650 parishioners. In Domesday times Barrowden was a much more important place than today's mid-sized village would warrant, shared between King William and Robert de Trosny its population was sufficient to place it amongst the largest 20% of settlements recorded; its assets too were larger than for a conventional rural holding with 29 ploughs rather impressive and backed up with meadows, extensive woodland and a mill making for a wealthy settlement.

The Church

St Peter's church sits towards the southwest of the village accessed by the very narrow dead-end lane of Church Lane. The church has its oldest fabric dating to the 13th century, the period when Early English Gothic flourished, and this is illustrated very well in the southern face of the church where aisle, arcade & porch are all dated to that century by Pevsner. Double pointed arches, round moulded too are all signs of the 13th century. Whilst the northern arcade is similarly 13th century the northern face shows later work with early 14th century Decorated style windows to the northern chapel. Also showing Decorated style one finds the chancel and whilst the nave was almost certainly completed in a similar era it shows modification in the late 14th century and in the Perpendicular style. Typically for that period a clerestory was inserted to improve internal lighting whilst today's western tower also shows styling of the same Perpendicular period. For once Pevsner fails to mention a Victorian restoration so if one occurred it was light and sensitive. Given the width of Church Lane and the lack of turning at its far end one is advised to park in the village and approach on foot whence you can admire the east window as you approach. Once within the churchyard there are no significant obstacles to impede the photographer.