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

The Parish

The parish of Semer lies in southwestern Suffolk roughly 3 miles northwest of the market town of Hadleigh. Semer sits about a half mile east of the A1141 road which links Hadleigh with Lavenham. Semer is a rather small village sitting between the A1141 and the B1115 (which runs to Stowmarket) wth most properties lying along the latter road but with no real concentration, the wider parish is dotted with farms and cottages. The River Brett effectively forms the northern limit of the village. The Brett would have given Semer some variation in its farming regime, some pastures & meadows to accommodate cattle and compliment the typical arable nature of the area. Semer is drained southeastwards by the Brett which passes through Hadleigh turns southerly and meets the Stour near Stratford St Mary, the Stour takes water east to the estuary which sits between the twin ports of Felixtowe and Harwich to reach the North Sea. Semer is sited at around 30 metres above the sea in its valley setting, away from the Brett land rises to a spot height of 68 metres midway between Semer and Monks Eleigh on the A1141 in gently undulating terrain. This area of Suffolk has many relatively small parishes and Semer was one of those, covering a little over 1,200 acres it would have supported a population of close to 350 parishioners. In Domesday times Semer was a holding of Bury St Edmunds Abbey and equally small and rural, it offered 6 ploughs, some meadows and a mill.

The Church

All Saints' church stands in riverside meadows to the northwest of the notional centre of the village, it is reached by a footpath running parallel with the Brett. Like many Suffolk churches All Saints is largely a product of the 14th century and shows styling from both Decorated & Perpendicular eras. The church was, however, extensively modified in Victorian times. The western tower, despite renewal best retains the style of the medieval and is clearly of the 14th century showing Decorated styled tracery to its bell-openings. The restoration of 1873 was,however, a major piece of work which not only rebuilt the chancel from the foundations up it added a porch for the priest's door and a vestry. Further work followed in 1899 to rebuild the southern porch. During this work most of the internal fittings were also replaced. The start of the path to the church begins about 150 yards west of the B1115 and is marked by the church noticeboard and a prominent white sign, there is space for a car or two to park off-road, it is a walk of perhaps 200 yards to the churchyard which is bordered by thick tree cover but has few obstacles to concern the photographer.