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

The Parish

The parish of Meare lies centrally within Somerset about 3 miles northwest of the market town of Glastonbury. Meare is a large and linear village which sits on the B3151 road which connects Glastonbury with Wedmore & Cheddar. Meare is a riverside settlement sitting on slightly higher ground within the Somerset Levels, a slight ridge of drier grouns parallels the nearby River Brue on which both Meare and its subsidiary settlement of Westhay lie, most properties line the B3151 as this too follows this higher ground. The area has a long and ancient history of settlement, archaeologists have traced numerous examples of "lake villages" built on wooden platforms above water in and around Meare. The landscape is a wetland, an extensive lake reportedly of 5 miles in circumference once stood to the north and was only drained in the 16th century. Meare would have largely earned its living from pastoral farming but the traditional activities of wildfowling, thatch harvesting and transportation of goods along the river systems would have employed many. The Brue drains the parish northwestwards making its way to the outer Bristol Channel through the port of Bridgwater. Meare is sited at around 10 metres above the sea, that meagre height being what passes for local high ground in this flat landscape. Meare parish was one of the larger within its county, covering almost 8,300 acres (more reminiscent of a northern, upland, parish) it would have supported a population of around 1,500 parishioners. In Domesday times Meare was a holding of nearby Glastonbury Abbey, a wealthy holding with assets of 11 ploughs, meadows, pastures & woodland and 3 profitable fisheries.

The Church

St Mary's church sits on the northern side of the B3151 just east of the main junction within the village. For once a dedication date has been documented for St Mary giving an indication of completion by 1323, Pevsner does note that this is more pertinent to the present chancel and western tower as later work obscures the details of other parts. The chancel, in particular, pleased Pevsner showing tracery which illustrates the change from the Geometric period into Decorated. The nave, too, has 14th century origins albeit obscured by later work and only revealed in the southern doorway. The early 14th century western tower was extensively re-worked in the 15th by the addition of the southern stair turret which gives it its characteristic silhouette. The 15th century also saw the addition of aisles and, a traditional time period for such additions, a clerestory to improve internal lighting. 19th century work was limited for once and early with a vestry added during the Georgian period of 1823, Pevsner does not note any significant Victorian restoration. The B3151 is widely used for street parking opposite the church site but should be careful as the road does take significant traffic. The churchyard is surrounded by a low, knee height, wall and has a walkway lined by trees running to the main doorway, sadly this walkway does impede many angles and the western tower is slightly enclosed by further trees both making for a challenge to the photographer.