England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Wingfield St Andrew

The Parish

The parish of Wingfield lies in the extreme north of Suffolk not too far from its border with neighbouring Norfolk. Wingfield is situated about 4 miles south of the Norfolk town of Harleston and a mile north of the B1118 road which connects Diss in Norfolk with Stradbroke. Wingfield is a rather dispersed settlement with most properties lying on a "T" shaped set of lanes to the north of the B1118, Church Road forming the axis of that shape. Wingfield is notable for its 14th century castle, remains of which lies to the northwest of the church, it was given license, granted to the De La Pole family, to crenallate in 1384. Like most Suffolk parishes Wingfield was, and still is, an arable farming community based on the fertile soils and gentle terrain of the county. A small stream drains northeastwards the short distance to join the River Waveney, here forming the county borderm which heads east to reach the North Sea through Great Yarmouth. Wingfield is sited at around 40 metres, as is much of the land hereabouts once away from the Waveney Valley, land gently rises southeastwards to reach almost 60 metres to the southeast of Stradbroke. Wingfield parish was fairly typically sized for this area, covering almost 2,500 acres it would have supported close to 650 parishioners. In Domesday times Wingfield was an important settlement in the largest 20% of places recorded in that tome, it was shared largely between Robert Malet and Ely Abbey and could boast an impressive 19 ploughs as awell as extensive meadows & woodland.

The Church

St Andrew's church sits on the eastern side of Church Road opposite the village inn which commemorates the local De La Pole family. It is fair to say that St Andrew is one of the most impressive churches in Suffolk, that family contributing extensively over the centuries to its size and glorification. Pevsner text waxes at length about the detail but suffice it to say the church is a mixture of the Decorated and Perpendicular styles with a long history of additions, modifications and restoration. In the 14th a college of priests was founded by the Wingfield family, Sir John Wingfield who died in 1361 being principal benefactor at that time, and this is usually quoted as a suitable date for the consecration of St Andrew. The western tower and northern chapel are contemporary with that period and St John's minument sits within the chancel. But it is to the De La Pole family and Michael 2nd Earl of Suffolk who died in 1415 that much must be attributed. The lavish southern chapel was undoubtedly funded by his contemporaries. The Perpendicular era brought St Andrew's most noticeable feature the clerestory crossing both nave and chancel as well as the east window of the chancel.Given the glory of the church it is perhaps surprising that the Victorians largely left well alone but no major restoration masks the medieval grandness of St Andrew. Church Road is narrow but a small pull-in sits opposite the De La Pole Arms with room for a car or two, metal gates lead to a path through screening trees. It is fortunate that the impressive view from the south is not obscured by obstacles allowing the full glory to be appreciated and captured by the photographer.