England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Hopton Cangeford

The Parish

The parish of Hopton Cangeford lies in south central Shropshire about 5 miles northeast of the market town of Ludlow. Hopton Cangeford sits, in lanes, about 1 mile west of the B 4364 road which connects Ludlow with Bridgnorth. There is little to modern day Hopton Cangeford, and it would appear always to have been thus, just a scatter of farms and cottages with no real village which given the low population of the parish is not surprising. Hopton Cangeford's few parishioners would largely have earned their income from pastoral farming. Hopton Cangeford is drained by Hopton Brook which soon joins Ledwyche Brook and eventually the Teme near Tenbury Wells, the Teme makes its way southeast eventually reaching the Severn south of the city of Worcester and thence to the Bristol Channel. Hopton Cangeford is sited at around 150 metres above the sea, the hilly terrain rises on nearby Weston Hill to over 320 metres in strongly undulating countryside. Hopton Cangeford parish was tiny, it covered barely 500 acres and the population totaled around 30 parishioners. In Domesday times Hopton Cangeford was not separately recorded being included in nearby Upper Ledwyche; held by one William Pandolf it could offer just a pair of ploughs.

The Church

Hopton Cangeford's church is now deconsecrated and is an up-market bed & breakfast establishment. The building sits on the northern side of the lane leading to Stoke St Milborough just at the brow as it leaves the valley of Hopton Brook. The building is 18th century, with a 3-stage western tower, a 3-bay nave with lower chancel. The site is not crowded with obstructions but respect for the residents is required.