England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Hawkridge St Giles

The Parish

The parish of Hawkridge lies in the extreme west of Somerset forming a stretch of the county's border with neighbouring Devon. Hawkridge is located roughly 4 miles west of the small town of Dulverton and stands in an area devoid of significant numbered roads, the closest such road being the B5223 road which links Dulverton with Lynton in Devon and which lies some 3 miles to the east of Hawkridge at its closest. Hawkridge is a tiny hamlet sitting high amongst the hills of Exmoor, as its name suggests it site upon a ridge above the River Barle where a few cottages and the church gather around a junction of lanes. Much of the parish is upland moorland with rough grazing for mainly hardy sheep.Today many visitors and hikers pass through on the Two Moors Way Local Trail which crosses the peninsula of Devon from south to north descending from Hawkridge church to the beauty spot of Tarr Steps, the focus of many visits. Hawkridge is drained southeastwards by the Barle which meets the Exe after passing through Dulverton, the Exe continues south through Tiverton & Exeter to reach the English Channel through its estuary. Hawkridge is sited at around 290 metres above the sea at the church, land rises along its ridge to 428 metres at Brightworthy Burrows, the highest local ground. Hawkridge parish was extensive covering just under 3,800 acres but would have barely supported a population of 50 parishioners. Hawkridge is not mentioned in Domesday Book.

The Church

St Giles'  church stands at the junction of lanes which forms the notional village, in reality a loose grouping of cottages. Like many isolated churches St Giles has masonry dating to the earliest times, its doorway is a 12th century Norman Romanesque feature showing one order of colonnettes. Whilst the majority of the church is medieval, Pevsner was unable to detect much detailing that would give specific dates, the only confirmed date he issues is that the east window and chancel masonry are 14th century. The church has a plain 2-stage western tower, again with little detailing to identify its age. There was a Victorian restoration of 1877 was primarily concerned with re-building the roofs but which also made changes to both doorways. Whilst the lane passing the church is narrow, typical of hill-country in this area, it is widened outside the gates to allow a single vehicle safe on-street parking. The churchyard is open and uncluttered with no obstacles whatsoever for the photographer.