England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Forton All Saints

The Parish

The parish of Forton lies in the extreme west of Staffordshire forming a stretch of the county's border with neighbouring Shropshire. Forton is located just over a mile northeast of the Shropshire market town of Newport and stands on the A519 road which links Newport with Eccleshall. Forton, itself, is a small crossroads settlement on the A519 whilst larger settlements within the parish included Sutton, also a crossroads village but larger, also standing on the A519 to the northeast and also the linear settlement of Meretown running south from Forton. The major element of the parish was, however, the estate of Aqualate Park, the estate of the 17th century manor house built for the Scrymsher family, passing onwards to the Bougheys, which stands in extensive manicured parkland including the expanse of Aqualate Mere over a mile in length and half that in width. Almost all land was owned by the Lord of the Manor and the parish economy, therefore, was driven by the needs of the estate with pastoral farming the dominant activity. Modern developments came and went from the parish, a branch canal once connected Newport to the Shropshire Union but has since closed and only sections remain. Forton is drained westwards by the Strine Brook which eventually meets the River Tern near Longdon on Tern from where water heads southwest and then south to meet the mighty Severn to the east of Shrewsbury, after passing though iconic Ironbridge and stately Worcester the Severn eventually reaches the sea through the Bristol Channel. Forton is sited at around 80 metres above the sea land rises only gently to the southeast to reach the local high spot of Windmill Bank at 127 metres. Forton parish, like many in the west Midlands was quite extensive covering just a bit less than 3,700 acres which would have supported a population of close to 750 parishioners. Whilst Forton was not recorded in Domesday Book the manor of Meretown was so recorded as a holding of King William which offered 11 ploughs, some woodland and also held a mill.

The Church

All Saints' church sits east of the A519 and on the northeastern side of the lane that leads to Meretown. The church's standout feature is its blocky western tower which covers two distinct medieval eras within its construction, the basal stages are the amongst earliest remaining fabric of the church and date from the Early English Gothic period of the 13th century. By way of contrast its upper stages are Perpendicular and probably 15th century. Contemporary with the bottom of the tower but perhaps slightly earlier is the 13th century chancel. Completing the medieval fabric is the mid-14th century northern aisle. The church received major change in the early 18th century much of that work fell in 1723 which is the date of the nave's southern wall, the northern arcade and the work behind the raising of the roof-line. There was no customary Victorian restoration rather it fell in the early 20th century and was completed in 1910, a tasteful and considerate piece of work which did not make significant additions to the fabric. Visiting the church is made easy by a semicircular layby outside the gates with room for several vehicles. Whilst most of the churchyard views are unimpeded the western tower lies embedded within trees restricting views of that piece.