England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Tinwell All Saints

The Parish

The parish of Tinwell lies in the extreme east of Rutland forming parts of the borders with both Lincolnshire and with Northamptonshire including with a 3-counties meet. Tinwell is located just under 2 miles west of the Lincolnshire market town of Stamford and stands on the A6121, a linking road which joins Stamford with the A47 (Peterborough to Leicester) road at Morcott. Tinwell is a rather linear village with most properties lying either along the A6121 or on a lane headed northwards from it, the small village sits on the northern banks of the River Welland which here forms the border with the neighbouring counties. Like most parishes in eastern England Tinwell was a farming parish and largely arable in its production of cereals, root crops and the like. Modern developments have come to the parish in abundance, the railway line from Stamford to Oakham just enters the parish area without granting a station whilst to the east lies the modern route of the A1 (Great North Road) as Stamford's bypass and nowadays a fast dual-carriageway highway. These modern developments have raised pressure on the village as it is increasingly seen as a commuter settlement for nearby Stamford and further afield. Tinwell is drained eastwards by the Welland which passes through Fenland to reach the North Sea through The Wash. Tinwell is sited at around 30 metres above the sea in gently rolling countryside where the odd spot approaches the 90 metre contour as the highest ground around. Tinwell parish covered around 1,700 acres so was typically sized for its area, that acreage would have supported a population of close to 250 parishioners. Domesday Tinwell is one of those small manors which just scrapes into the top 20% of settlements, it assets, held by Peterborough Abbey suggest a more modest manor, just like today, assets of 9 ploughs, some meadow and 2 mills.

The Church

All Saints' church sits on the southern side of the A6121 towards the western end of the village. The church is the frequent example of most of the middle and later medieval periods having its origins in the 13th century but undergoing period of change and rebuild through to the 15th. From the 13th century Early English Gothic period there is the southern arcade complete with characteristic circular piers and double chamfered arches. The basal stages of the western tower are also 13th century albeit its build continued into the early 14th century as the bell-openings and saddleback roof are early 14th century Decorated in style. The 15th century Perpendicular period saw many changes to the church, the northern arcade was removed, the chancel's southern wall was rebuilt leaving the chancel out of alignment with the chancel arch, a clerestory was inserted and the northern doorway added. A 19th century east window is evidence of Victorian intervention although Pevsner declines to define a formal restoration. Whilst an A-class road the A6121 is straight and broad allowing on-street parking outside the churchyard gates, the churchyard has no major issues for the photographer.