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

The Parish

The parish of Brompton Ralph lies in western Somerst roughly 3 miles north of the small town of Wiveliscombe. Brompton Ralph sits about a half mile west of the B3188 road which connects Wiveliscombe with Watchet. Brompton Ralph is a small village sat around the steep head of a small valley, the main village lane following a contour and lined with cottages and farms. Brompton Ralph sits on the southeastern corner of Exmoor with land rising steeply northwestwards onto heather moorland. The parish itself is a mixed farming area, early gazetteers estimate roughly 50:50 of arable and pasture with some managed woodland holding the balance. Brompton Ralph is drained southeastwards by its small broom witch merges with others to become Halse Water which continues the same direction until meeting the Tone at Taunton, the Tone heads into the Somerset Levels where it joins the Parrett, turn northwards and reaches the outer Bristol Channel. Brompton Ralph is sited at between 160 and 180 metres above the sea in strongly undulating terrain, to the northwest land rises steeply to the first of Exmoor's heights the hill-fort topped Elworthy Barrows which tops out at 392 metres. Parishes in this area of the county are often quite extensive and Brompton Ralph was one of these covering 2,700 acres and supporting a population of close to 500 parishioners. Domesday Brompton Ralph was also quite a moderately sized manor, held by William de Mohun it offered 10 ploughs, meadows, pastures & woodland and also held a mill.

The Church

St Mary's church sits roughly midway through the village at the northeastern corner of a triangular village green. Due to later rebuilding there is not too much of the medieval remaining at St Mary. The western tower in three stages and rather plain looking is genuine from the 15th century and is late Perpendicular in style. Also from the same era is the southern door.  The nave too shows Perpendicular styled windows that contradicts the accepted notion that the church was rebuilt in 1738, Pevsner certainly had his doubts regarding its dating. Both Pevsner and Historic England use vaguely disbelieving language, Pevsner "reputedly" and Historic England "said to have been", when describing this 18th century rebuild. Early restorations are, however, documented recording the tower in both 1797 & 1804 whilst the northern aisle was the first addition of the Victorians. 1881 saw the major Victorian restoration wherein the chancel was rebuilt, the church re-roofed and restored. From the roadside, where parking may be found, the green rises in a distinct hump to the churchyard gates, the churchyard is mostly open and uncluttered but the photographer will be disappointed that the favoured southern aspect is removed from the portfolio by a prominent block of trees, viewing along the church is the only option rather than the unfavoured northern views.