England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Audley St James

The Parish

The parish of Audley lies in northwestern Staffordshire and forms an extensive part of the border with neighbouring Cheshire. Audley is located about 5 miles northwest of Newcastle under Lyme and sits on the B5500 road which heads towards Crewe from Newcastle under Lyme. An extensive parish Audley included settlements such as Talke, Bignall End and Halmer End, all substantial villages in themselves, as well as the large village of Audley itself. A varied economy supported the population, dairy farming formed the backbone but extensive quarrying of sandstone as well as coal mining supported a substantial number. Modern developments have impacted the parish, the M6 motorway passes through the western portion of the parish. Audley is drained northwestwards by the Valley Brook which joins the Weaver to the west of Crewe, eventually reaching the Mersey Estuary close to Runcorn and thence the Irish Sea. Audley is sited at around 140 metres above the sea in rolling countryside where local heights reach to almost 240 metres on Bignall Hill, where sits a monument to Wedgewood the pottery manufacturer. Audley parish was extensive, one of the largest by area in its county, it covered around 11,000 acres and within its many settlements it supported a population of almost 4,500 parishioners. In Domesday times, by comparison, Audley was a tiny place, held by a relict of the pre-Norman population one Gamal (son of Gryfydd and presumably Welsh), just 2 ploughs and small meadows & woodland offered a meagre income to a mere 7 households.

The Church

St James' church sits on the eastern edge of Audley village and south of the B5500 on Church Street. The church is predominantly of the Decorated period which reached its zenith during the first half of the 14th century. The main body of the church, nave, chancel and western tower are all in this style. Later additions come in the form of arcades and aisles which are from the later Perpendicular style, perhaps a build crossing the style divide or perhaps a restoration and expansion of the church after a complete Decorated build. The clerestory, a component often added during the 15th century to increase the light in the building, is, in this case, a Victorian addition. The church was partially rebuilt during an extensive restoration of 1846. The church sits on the eastern side of Church Street in an elevated position and flush to the churchyard boundary above the road, parking can be found on the opposite side just beyond the site. A short flight of steps lead from metal gates to that western tower which sits uncomfortably close and is best viewed from across Church Street, the main churchyard is, sadly, rather full of trees making for a difficult subject to capture.