England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Silvington St Michael

The Parish

The parish of Silvington lies in southeastern Shropshire not too far from its border with neighbouring Worcestershire. Silvington is located about 6 miles northwest of the small market town of Cleobury Mortimer and sits, in lanes, just over 2 miles north of the A4117 road which connects Cleobury Mortimer with Ludlow. There is not too much to Silvington and it would seem to have always been a small place, a scatter of farms and cottages across a small valley on the middle slopes of Titterstone Clee Hill. Almost exclusively a pastoral farming community Silvington is and was a cattle rearing area. Silvington is drained northeastwards by fast running becks heading to the nearby River Rea, this heads southwards to join the Teme just east of Tenbury Wells, in turn it joins the Severn to reach the Bristol Channel through the latter's estuary. Silvington is sited at around 200 metres above the sea, an upland parish through and through, land rises to the southwest to reach 533 metres on the summit of Titterstone Clee Hill. By Shropshire standards Silvington parish was tiny, covering just over 1,100 acres it supported a population of barely 50 parishioners. In Domesday times Silvington was held by the Abbey of Rheims but was very small and its assets were not detailed.

The Church

St Michael's church stands amongst farms on the lane that forms the only road through the parish looping around Silvington Common from Farlow. The church has, however, been here for a long time and is still in use despite its rural isolation. The western tower and nave are Norman Romanesque in style and probably date from the 12th century. Pevsner points to the tower arch, however, as placing the tower later than the nave and Transitional from Romanesque into Early English Gothic, a phase usually indicative of the last quarter of the 12th century. The chancel was added in the 14th century in a Decorated style, windows in the nave were also replaced at that period. Additions of the 17th century include the porch and doorway. For once the church was not restored in Victorian times and we are able to view it as the historical piece it is. The church sits on the western side of its lane, surrounded by barns and other farm buildings, the lane is narrow so parking should be careful. A small gate, complete with simple arch, leads to a climbing pathway to the church. The churchyard is relatively free of photographic obstacles.