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

The Parish

The parish of Edith Weston lies in southeastern Rutland roughly 7 miles west of the Lincolnshire town of Stanford and sitting on the southern banks of Rutland Water Reservoir. Edith Weston sits just over 2 miles south of the A606 road which connects Stamford through to Oakham. Edith Weston is a small village, a little linear as it followed higher ground prior to the filling of the reservoir which now restricts northward growth. To the southeast of the village lies the former RAF Luffenham site with its attached former service properties. Much of the land that was Edith Weston parish lies beneath the waters of the reservoir but enough remains to determine it as a typical arable farming parish like most in eastern England. The River Gwash exits the reservoir and therefore drains the area headed eastwards to meet the Welland which crosses Fenland to reach the North Sea through The Wash. Edith Weston is sited at around 100 metres above the seam heights reach almost 130 metres westwards in gently rolling countryside. Edith Weston parish covered just over 1,800 acres and supported close to 350 parishioners, Edith Weston is not mentioned in Domesday Book.

The Church

St Mary's church stands on the northern side of Church Lane close to the edges of the reservoir. Pevsner interprets the chancel arch in great detail supporting an origin in the 12th century Norman Romanesque era, similar details are noted in both the southern transept and western arches. All these details pre-date 1300. In the 13th century the southern arcade was added to the original church whilst in the 14th the impressive tower capped by spire and pinnacled battlements was completed. There matters rested until the 18th century when the porch was added. The Victorian restoration of 1865 rebuilt the chancel and southern chapel as well as adding an organ chamber and rebuilding parts of the northern wall, a thorough example of the changes often wrought by well-meaning restorers. Church Lane is just about wide enough for on-street parking west of the site allowing a relaxed visit. A local stone wall surrounds a churchyard which quite a few trees removing many favoured aspects and presenting a little challenge to adequately record this church.