England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Dowlish Wake St Andrew

The Parish

The parish of Dowlish Wake lies in southern Somerset not too far from its border with neighbouring Dorset. Dowlish Wake is located about two miles southeast of the market town of Ilminster in lanes roughly midway between the A303 (London to Exeter road) and the A30 (linking Crewkerne & Chard). Dowlish Wake is a substantial village built along a lane that crosses the Dowlish Brook with many properties built along the rising slopes either side of the stream. There would have been 3 main income sources for the area at the time of this transcript; in farming the area is renowned for its cider and there are still farm producers in the area today, between the orchards the farming was largely pastoral and cattle based, in addition the underlying limestone was quarried and used as a building stone. The Dowlish Brook is heading westwards to join the River Isle and thence the Parrett before reaching the Bristol Channel through Bridgwater. Dowlish Wake is located in gently undulating countryside, the village rises from 60 metres above sea level by the stream up to 80 metres by the church, local heights just top 100 metres. This area of Somerset has many rather small parishes and Dowlish Wake is one of these, it would, however, have supported over 350 parishioners. In Domesday times Dowlish Wake was held by one Bishop Geoffrey of Coutances and supported 8 ploughs as well as meadows, pastures and extensive productive woodland.

The Church

St Andrew's church is built at the northern end of the village on the western side of the lane that climbs steeply from the crossing of Dowlish Brook (Mill Lane). The church has a configuration, with a central crossing tower, which is usually indicative of an early church, however, Pevsner is rather reticent on dating referring only to a 13th century date for the lower portion of the tower. It is very likely that the church carries a series of dates from 13th to 16th centuries but much was masked by a rather overzealous restoration by the Victorians in 1860. The church sits in a very elevated site on the crest of the hill, Mill Lane is sunk way below head level alongside. A long rising pathways gives access from the south via a set of metal gates. The churchyard has the usual yews and other trees but is not unduly restricted for photography.