England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
West Bagborough St Pancras

The Parish

The parish of West Bagborough lies in western Somerset nestle tightly underneath the high ground of the Quantock Hills. West Bagborough is a rather straggled out community formed mainly along a lane running along the base of the hills. West Bagborough is located about 8 miles northwest of the county town of Taunton and sits a mile east of the A358 road which connects Taunton with the coastal A39 at Williton. At the time of this transcript West Bagborough would have earned its income from farming, the location giving the parish good pastures on the Quantock Hills as well as arable fields in the vale. Today the attractions of the Quantock Hills for riding and hiking bring a degree of tourist income to the village. West Bagborough is drained southeastwards by small tributaries of the Back Stream which meets the Tone to the north of Taunton and thence to the Bristol Channel via the Parrott and the port of Bridgwater. West Bagborough is sited at between 130 & 170 metres above the sea, local heights on the Quantock Hills reach almost 400 metres on nearby Will's Neck whilst to the west the land is gentle rolling at a general height of 100 metres or so. West Bagborough parish was fairly typically sized for this area, it covered just under 2,000 acres and would have supported a population of around 450 parishioners. In Domesday times West Bagborough was shared by two Normans, William of Mohun (having the larger share) and Ralph Paynel; the parish was able to offer 10 ploughs, small meadows, woodlands & pastures together with an array of domestic animals.

The Church

St Pancras' church sits to the north of village within the grounds of Bagborough House and is best approached on foot from a small parking area at a preeminent bend in West Bagborough's lane where there is a lychgate and parking area. The church is a construct of the 15th century making use of the Perpendicular style throughout. Much use is made of the local red sandstone. The church has a 3-bay nave with northern arcade, chancel and western tower augmented with a vestry and southern porch. The church received the customary Victorian restoration in this case in 1872. Pevsner is critical of that act stating it is "over restored". From the lych gate a footpath leads through trees to the churchyard, the church is tightly hemmed in to the east by Bagborough House and trees but other angles allow adequate photography.