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

The Parish

The parish of Weeford lies in southeastern Staffordshire forming a short stretch of the county's border with neighbouring Warwickshire. Weeford is located roughly 4 miles south of the city of Lichfield and stands just south of the ancient route-way of the A5, which follows the Roman Watling Street, which links Tamworth through to Cannock. Weeford is a rather small place, a collection of farms and cottages sitting on the northern banks of the Black Brook and gathered around its church; the wider parish is also dotted with farms and cottages with no real concentrations of settlement. Like most parishes in this area it would have been farming which dominated the local economy, here a mixed farming regime would have pertained with both arable and pastoral components. Modern developments abound around the tiny village, the A5 is nowadays a modern dual-carriageway highway as is the A38 running from north to south whilst to the west the new M6 toll motorway, Birmingham's "bypass", passes close by. The Black Brook drains the parish eastwards to reach the River Tame where things turn north to the Trent joining that river's lengthy journey to the North Sea arriving through the Humber estuary. Weeford is sited at around 90 metres above the sea, away from the shallow valley of the Black Brook land rises fairly gently southwards to a local spot height of  151 metres. For a rural parish Weeford parish was quite extensive at just over 2,500 acres it would have supported a population of around 400 parishioners. The entry for Weeford in Domesday Book is surely representative of a region rather than a small settlement of just 5 households, held by the Bishop of Chester its assets of 32 ploughs, an extensive meadow and a mill are surely too much for such a small settlement.

The Church

St Mary's church sits close to the Black Brook but across Weeford Road and on its northern side. Sadly this church is a relatively recent one having been largely constructed in or close to 1800 replacing a prior medieval version. A simple nave and chancel, albeit that chancel is a 19th century replacement, are set off by the signatory piece of the elaborate western bell turret sitting above its own dedicated bay. Short transepts complete the design. Styles used vary through the piece with lancets in mock Early English Gothic sitting alongside Tudor styled arches in confusing mish-mash. As mentioned both the chancel and that iconic bell-turret are later additions to the basic 1800 design, the bell turret complete with octagonal bell chamber and pyramidal cap being the most distinctive feature of the church. St Mary is blessed with substantial parking both in Weeford Road and alongside its side entrance allowing an extended visit. The churchyard is open and uncluttered with no obvious obstacles for the photographer.