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

The Parish

The parish of Rattlesden lies in the southwestern portion of central Suffolk around 5 miles west of the market town of Stowmarket. Rattlesden sits in an area devoid of significant numbered roads, the closest such road and lying over 3 miles to its north, is the busy cross-country highway of the A14 linking the east coastal ports with the national motorway network. Rattlesden is a large village built around a flattened oval of lanes on a southwest to northeast axis, all lying along the shallow valley of the Rattlesden River. Besides the main village there are also a few extra hamlets within the wider parish. Like most Suffolk parishes Rattlesden would have earned its income largely from arable farming, the river would have brought a few pastures alongside but in the main land was strongly devoted to the growing of cereals, as it still is today. Rattlesden was also known to the Romans, their ancient route north from Colchester forming some of the straighter lanes in this rural district. The Rattlesden River drains the parish eastwards to meet the Gipping at Stowmarket and turning southeast, after passing through the county town of Ipswich it meets the North Sea through the picturesque Orwell estuary. Rattlesden is sited at around 50 metres above the sea in gently rolling countryside, the highest ground around lies to the southwest where it scrapes just above the 90 metre contour. By Suffolk standard Rattlesden was an extensive parish covering just short of 3,300 it was twice the size of most of its near neighbours, that large extent saw it support around 1,150 parishioners. In Domesday times Rattlesden was equally significant, large enough to be a member of the largest 20% of settlements by population, shared by 6 landholders it assets of 11 ploughs backed by the normal meadows & woodland are more modest than that category would suggest.

The Church

St Nicholas' church lies in the slither of land between northern (High Street) and southern (Lower Road) arms of the oval defining the village centre. The church is a creation largely of the 14th century but much modified by later rebuilding and restoration. The earliest fabric reported by Pevsner is that of the southern doorway to which he assigns a date of c1300, this date would fall within the short period of the Transitional style between Early English Gothic and Decorated. The latter style appears more abundantly with the western tower topped by its splay-foot shingled spire rising from within its parapet built in that later style. The remaining 14th century pieces are a mixture of Decorated & Perpendicular styles, the 5-bay arcades being early whilst the later style is represented by a traditional feature of that era, a clerestory - here it features a run of 3-light windows to admit extra light. Much of the remainder dates from extensive work in Victorian times with the chancel repaired in 1879, a general restoration (rather thorough) in 1883 which added much decorational pinnacles and a major re-roofing of 1894-1896. High Street widens outside the churchyard into a triangular parking area allowing a relaxed visit, from the wrought iron gates a broad pathway crosses south of the church offering the best views for the photographer.