England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Atcham St Eata

The Parish

The parish of Atcham lies almost centrally within Shropshire, sitting on the banks of the Severn just 3 miles south east of Shrewsbury. Atcham is a small and compact village sitting on the flood plain an on the B4380 road which connects Shrewsbury with Cressage. The B4380 crosses the Severn to the west of the village on a fine Georgian bridge. Atcham has a long history, stones reused in the church are Roman in origin and less than 2 miles to the east sat the Roman city of Wroxeter. Atcham's economy would have been dominated by pastoral farming, the rich pastures of the Severn floodplain supported many cattle. The Severn drains the parish southeastwards on a long journey to the sea eventually reaching the Bristol Channel. Atcham is sited at just 40 metres above the sea and sits on a level, or almost level plain stretching for several miles before the 100 metres contour is reached. Atcham parish was fairly typically sized for its area, covering just under 3,000 acres it would have supported a population of close to 500 parishioners. In Domesday time the assets reported of just 4 ploughs seem a meagre return to the canons of St Alkmond in Shrewsbury.

The Church

St Eata's church, the dedication is unique in England and Wales and refers to a follower of St Aidan, sits perilously close to the Severn accessed by a short dead-end lane heading south immediately east of the Severn Bridge. Strangely the church is not mentioned in Domesday Book despite documentary evidence of a church on this site as early as 1075 and the presence of reused Roman blocks in its structure. The nave is the earliest portion of the church and crosses the divide between Late Saxon and Early Norman Romanesque styles. In order the western tower is next and 12th century in origin. The chancel then follows and it is Early English Gothic and of the 13th century, showing the lancet windows typical of that era. A reworking in the classic church building period of Perpendicular replaced or restyled many windows and added the topmost stage to the tower. Finally the southern porch was added in Jacobite times dating to 1665. For one Pevsner does not mention a Victorian restoration so it was either nonexistent or very light. As one approaches the Severn Bridge from the east a brown sign indicates the way to the church, the short lane has ample parking and there is also parking on the edges of the churchyard. The western tower sits within 10 metres of the Severn and a pair of mature trees are close to the church's south somewhat restricting the views available for photography.