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

The Parish

The parish of Hopesay lies in southwestern Shropshire not too far from its border with neighbouring Herefordshire. Hopesay is located about 6 miles southeast of the small market town of Bishops Castle. Hopesay, today, is a rather small village located in lanes about a mile and a half north of the B4368 road which connects Craven Arms with Clun. Hopesay is very much an upland community with pastoral farming being the main economic activity of the parish. Much of Hopesay's properties lie alongside the main north/south running lane which parallels a small stream and sits in the valley bottom. This stream drains southwards to shortly reach the River Clun, the Clun eventually joins the Teme and thence the Severn at Worcester before reaching the Bristol Channel through the Severn estuary. Hopesay is sited at around 170 metres above the sea but local heights rise to over twice that height within a mile or two and many are topped by defensive hill forts, Burrow Hill Camp less than a mile west is a fine example and stands at 334 metres. Upland parishes are normally rather large and Hopesay was no exception, it covered just over 4,000 acres and would have supported a population of just over 650 parishioners. In Domesday time Hopesay was held by one Picot of Sai and could offer just 8 ploughs.

The Church

St Mary's church sits on the western side of Hopesay's lane and some 10 metres higher than that lane, it is accessed by a short rising lane which eventually becomes a footpath and is followed by the Shropshire Way Trail. The church can be confidently dated to the beginning of the 13th century and is a rather solid looking structure. The church follows the standard layout of nave, chancel and western tower, the latter resembling a fortification rather than elegant showpiece. Many windows are Decorated in style although there are later, 14th century & Victorian, examples too. The lane accessing the church is merely a few yards long and the church sits on its southern side just beyond the old Rectory. A fine lychgate (of 1892) grants access to a rather cluttered churchyard, trees somewhat limit the photographic angles available for photography.