England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Denston St Nicholas

The Parish

The parish of Denston lies in southwestern Suffolk roughly 8 miles northeast of the market town of Haverhill. Denston sits a mile east of the A143 road which links Haverhill with Bury St Edmunds. Denston is a rather linear village with a western section following the main lane connecting the village with the A143, on that lane meeting the course of a small stream, eventually becoming the River Glem, a more southeasterly line is followed. Like most Suffolk villages Denston would have been an, and still is, an arable farming village, the land is gently rolling and easily worked making its fertile soils suitable for cereals such as wheat & barley. The southwestern portion of the parish was dominated by the estate of Denston Hall who would have had an impact on the parish economy. Twin brooks converge on Denston from Stradishall and Wickhambrook, the two combine to form the Glem which drains the parish eastwards to meet the county border with Essex and the Stour west of Long Melford, the Stour eventually reaches the North Sea through Manningtree and the twin ports of Felixstowe & Harwich. Denston is sited at around 70 metres above the sea and whilst gently rolling the land rarely reaches heights above 100 metres with a spot height of 113 metres the highest ground lying to the southwest. Denston parish was towards the smaller end of the Suffolk scale covering around 1,050 acres which would have supported a dense population of close to 350 parishioners. In Domesday times Denston was a rather small place shared between a marshal, Gerald, and Count Gilbert's son Richard it could only offer 4 ploughswith a small acreage of meadow and woodland.

The Church

St Nicholas' church sits on the northern side of the lane connecting the village with the A143, Water Lane. Unlike many churches the exact dates for the construction of this church are mostly known as it was rebuilt following the death of John Denston of Denston Hall who died c1474. Apart from the western tower which had existed since the late 14th century, early Perpendicular in style, the main body of the church was rebuilt as a single exercise from his bequests in his will. In addition to the church he also added chantry cottages for 3 priests to chant for the relief of his soul. The late 15th into early 16th century build was also Perpendicular in style but a more mature version. Particularly impressive are the 7-bay arcades and the clerestory with its 3-light windows all closely set together. Parking for the church is a straightforward indent into the verge outside the gates, which break a typical flint and tile wall, the view from the gates themselves is the best angle as trees dominate the southeastern quadrant, further trees here and there determine that careful selection of angles is required of the photographer.