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

The Parish

The parish of Thurloxton lies centrally in western Somerset about 6 miles south of the port of Bridgwater. Thurloxton is a small village sitting a half mile west of the A38 road which links Bridgwater with Taunton. Most properties within the village gather around a staggered crossroads with a lane running westwards from the A38. Thurloxton sits on the eastern edge of rising ground which eventually emerges as the Quantock range. Like most small rural parishes in this area Thurloxton would have chiefly earned its income from pastoral farming, dairy cattle being the expected livestock sitting in small enclosed fields. Modern developments have come to Thurloxton as the modern M5 motorway carves its way just across the A38 from the village. Thurloxton is drained eastwards by small tributaries of the River Tone which eventually meets the Parrett before passing through Bridgwater to the outer Bristol Channel. Thurloxton is sited at around 80 metres above the sea whilst land continues to rose steadily westwards reaching almost 170 metres within a couple of miles. Somerset has many small rural parishes and Thurloxton was one of the smaller, covering barely 550 acres it would have supported a population of just under 200 parishioners. Whilst Thurloxton is not specifically mentioned in Domesday Book the area is reported under the manor of nearby Shearston, less than a half mile to the north, Roger de Courselles' holding was very modest with only 2 ploughs recorded as assets.

The Church

St Giles' church sits towards the western end of the village on the northern side of the main lane that runs east to west through, Mill Lane. Whilst the church has undoubtedly been here since medieval times it has been extensively modified in the period from the 15th to 16th centuries, quite late for a medieval church. Pevsner recognises Decorated style windows of the early 14th century in the nave and it may well be that this date represents the early stages of this church. To the basic nave & chancel layout there is a two-stage western tower which shows 16th century bell-lights but it too has Decorated tracery in its western window so dating is problematic. Even the porch carries a late date with the arch being dated to c1600 by Pevsner. The usual Victorian restoration, here in 1868, also added the northern aisle as well as being a general refresh. Perhaps the most interesting feature of St Giles' is, however, internal, as the woodwork, tentatively dated to c1634, is of a very good quality. Whilst Mill Lane is narrow it is fairly quiet and a broader patch by the western gate allows a car or two to safely park. There are a couple of intrusive trees close to the church but these can be easily avoided by the photographer.