England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Kittisford St Nicholas

The Parish

The parish of Kittisford lies in western Somerset no more than 2 miles from its lengthy border with neighbouring Devon. Kittisford is located about 4 miles west of the market town of Wellington and stands within a large area of the county devoid of significant numbered roads lying almost equidistant between the A38 (Wellington to Exeter) road and the B3227 (Wiveliscombe to Bampton) road both of which are 4 miles distant. Kittisford is a rather small place with two distinct clusters of properties, one lying along the lane on which sits the church whilst a half mile north there sits a further cluster at Kittisford Barton, both do not add to a substantial population. Like most parishes in this area pastoral farming of mainly dairy cattle support the majority of the population. Kittisford is drained eastwards by the River Tone which skirts Wellington before passing through Taunto to meet eventually the Parrett and turn north to the outer Bristol Channel. Kittisford sits on the western slopes of the Tone's valley rising from 80 to 100 metres above the sea with Kittisford Barton at a similar height, the parish occupies the southern edges of the upland region of Exmoor and outliers of this upland reach 261 metres on Hamilton Hill to the west and 267 metres on Combe Downs to the north west in a deeply incised landscape rich in steep and narrow hedged lanes. Kittisford parish was relatively small in extent, covering around 950 acres which supported a population of close to 150 parishioners. Domesday Kittisford was an equally small rural holding of one Roger Arundel offering just 5 plough, typical pastures, meadows and woodland although it did possess a mill.

The Church

St Nicholas' church sits within the hamlet of Kittisford west of the Tone and on the northern side of the rising lane through the settlement. St Nicholas is a fairly late medieval church in its origins with the 3-stage western tower showing the style of the late Perpendicular era. To the north of the main body the church also retains its 17th century north chapel which carries a dating of 1659. The porch is doubly unusual as it opens into the western end of the southern aisle which has an highly unusual 2-bat arcade entirely built from timber. The main body of the church, however, has been largely altered during a major Victorian restoration of 1875 giving a distinctly modern feel to the church. The lane which passes is broadened to forma parking bay opposite the churchyard, shared as access to a house so careful parking vital. The church sits rather tightly close to the southern boundary walling of the churchyard making the better landscape views from the street rather than within the local stone walled churchyard, that has many close trees restricting the angles available to the photographer.