England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Kinver St Peter

The Parish

The parish of KInver lies in the extreme south of Staffordshire, indeed it forms not only part of the border with neighbouring Worcestershire but also with Shropshire. Kinver is located about 4 miles west of the Worcestershire manufacturing town of Stourbridge. Kinver is located in lanes south of the A458 road which links Stourbridge with the Shropshire market town of Bridgnorth. Kinver is a substantial village and formerly was a small market town although this has been discontinued. Kinver is situated in an area that would predominantly have been used for pastoral farming but many were also employed in various manufacturing industries notably the manufacture of woolen cloth as well as the many forges making use of the local iron rich sandstone. This sandstone forms a notable outcrop (Kinver Edge) running south from KInver which is notable for its troglodyte houses excavated from the soft rock. Most of KInver is located between the Edge and the valley of the River Stour which runs southwards to join the River Severn at Stourport. Much of the river course has been canalised and forms the route of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. Kinver is sited at around 60 metres above the sea. By the standards of the area Kinver parish covered a large acreage, at almost 9,000 acres it would have supported a population of approximately 2,200 parishioners. In Domesday times Kinver was held directly by the King himself, it boasted 11 ploughs, 2 mills as well as meadows and extensive woodlands.

The Church

St Peter's church is sited high above the village on the eastern end of Kinver Edge in Church Hill. The church makes extensive use of the local sandstone giving it a glorious ruddy hue. Pevsner dates the building largely to the 14th and 15th centuries. The western tower being in the Decorated style while much else is in the Perpendicular style of the great church building era. The Victorians did there usual work, not only restoring the church but adding a northern aisle. The church sits in a dominating position with land dropping away vertiginously to the north. A low stone wall surrounds and an attractive lych gate gives entry. The building is tightly hemmed in to the west which limits photography from that direction but elsewhere there are few obstacles.