England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Acton Round St Mary

The Parish

The parish of Acton Round lies in central Shropshire about 4 miles southeast of the market town of Much Wenlock. Acton Round is small, not much bigger than a hamlet with a group of farms and cottages sitting on a narrow lane high on a ridge. Acton Round can be found about 3/4 mile west of the A458 road which connects Much Wenlock with Bridgnorth. The area is largely dominated by pastoral farming with small, hedged fields forming the most notable landscape feature. Acton Round is built on the northeastern end of a prominent ridge which overlooks two valleys, to the north and east is that of the Mor Brook and to its south that of Beaconhill Brook; these two streams flow eastwards to join the River Severn to the south of Bridgnorth and thence to the Bristol Channel. Acton Round is sited at about 150 metres above the sea, 50 metres above both streams down steep slopes. Acton Round parish is fairly typically sized for Shropshire, covering just over 2,100 acres it would have supported barely 180 parishioners. In Domesday times Acton Round was held by one Reginald the Sheriff and boasted just 6 ploughs and a mil

The Church

St Mary's church is set 200 yards from Acton Round's main lane up a metalled footpath it stands on the northern side of that footpath immediately after a large farm. The church lacks a tower or steeple, a western bellcote being the only decoration to the plain nave and chancel. The nave is the earliest remaining portion Pevsner is coy on its age merely stating that it is mediaeval. The chancel dates from 1714 whence it was rebuilt at the behest of Sir Whitmore Acton. As is usual the Victorians added the usual restoration and "improvements" these described by Pevsner as "unfortunate insertions" clearly not impressing. A hedge separates graveyard from track with access at the southeastern end, the graveyard is mostly open and there are no restrictions to photography.