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

The Parish

The parish of Stanton Long lies in the southern portion of central Shropshire roughly 10 miles east of the market town of Church Stretton. Stanton Long is sited about a mile southeast of the B4368 road which links Craven Arms through towards Bridgnorth. Stanton Long is a small village largely consisting of a single lane dotted with properties nowhere is it a dense village. Stanton Long lies in Corve Dale which parallels the ridge of Wenlock Edge which dominates the local landscape. Like most western rural parishes Stanton Long would have largely earned its income from pastoral farming, cattle are the local speciality in small enclosed pastures. Stanton Long is drained southwestwards by the River Corve which meets the Teme near to Ludlow, the Teme, in turn, is a major tributary of the Severn and water eventually makes its way to the sea through the Bristol Channel, Stanton Long is sited at around 150 metres above the sea but is dominated by the great ridge of Wenlock Edge which tops out at 273 metres to the north whilst to the south stands the even greater height of Brown Clee Hill standing at 540 metres at Abdon Burf. Stanton Long parish was unusual in comprising two distinct portions, one to the north being roughly equal in size to that surrounding the village, the total acreage was of the region of 2,200 acres and this would have supported around 300 parishioners. In Domesday times Stanton Long was a tiny place, indeed, a holding of Roger de Lacy offering merely 3 ploughs as its total assets.

The Church

St Michael's church sits a few yards northwest of the main part of the village on the southwest side of Stanton Long Holdgate which heads for nearby Shipton. The main body of the church dates from the Early English Gothic period being 13th century in date, both northern walls of nave & chancel show the characteristic lancet styled windows as verification of the style. The southern doorway is also of the same period its pointed arch sitting on simple imposts holds a contemporary door complete with iron scroll-work. The western end of the church is topped, not by a tower, but by a boarded timber bell-turret which Pevsner neglects to date, the clock faces are modern from 1927. As is usual the Victorian made their contribution to the church which was, in this case, quite substantial; besides restoring the church the work of 1869 - 1871 added a northern vestry and replaced windows in the nave, the east window and rebuilt the side walls of the porch, a thorough exercise. The lane passing the church is far too narrow for safe parking which should be sought in the main village and the church approached on foot. The churchyard is well above road height and is entered by a steep flight of 9 steps, once within the views are not impacted unduly as the churchyard, whilst compact, is open and uncluttered.