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

The Parish

The parish of Lapworth lies in western Warwickshire roughly 5 miles south of the town of Solihull. Lapworth sits immediately east of the A3400 road which links Solihull with Stratford upon Avon. Whilst Lapworth grants its name to the parish it is by far from being the largest settlement within it, Lapworth is merely a short run of properties running from the A3400 to the Stratford upon Avon Canal. The largest settlement, which sits just over a mile to the north is Hockley Heath a substantial village on the A3400 and north of the canal. Like most rural Warwickshire parishes Lapworth would have earned its income from farming with mixed methods in place which have become more weighted towards arable in modern times. Modern developments have come in abundance to the parish, the Stratford upon Avon canal arrived first followed by the Birmingham to Stratford upon Avon railway line running along the parish's eastern borders. Today the modern M40 motorway cuts through Lapworth just a few hundred yards south of its church. Lapworth is drained southwards by a small tributary of the River Alne which is joined at Wootton Wawen, the Alne, in turn, joins the Arrow and then the Avon before they all meet the Severn at Tewkesbury and continue along that mighty river to the sea through the Bristol Channel. Lapworth is sited at around 130 metres above the sea and Hockley Heath some 10 metres higher, their height required numerous locks on the canal to raise boats from the plains below, west of Hockley Heath land grazes the 150 metre contour in places as the highest ground around in rolling countryside. Warwickshire rural parishes are somewhat larger than their southern cousins and at just over 2,800 acres Lapworth parish was typically sized, that acreage would have supported a population of close to 750 parishioners. Domesday Lapworth was altogether a smaller place, held by Hugh de Grandmesnil it had only 3 households, no ploughs merely a couple of leagues of woodland.

The Church

St Mary's church sits on the eastern side of Church Lane within the short run of properties that comprises Lapworth. The church is very impressive especially when seen favourably from the south, far too grand for this small village perhaps. The church has a complex history which began in the 12th century as a simple aisleless church, traces of this 12th century Norman Romanesque church are few and are limited to a single window in the northern arcade and also to the double-chamfered arch from the northern chapel in the chancel. Of the 13th century more remains with aisles added to the church in the Early English Gothic style. The early 14th century and Decorated style saw many changes to the church not least was the construction of the stately and curiously placed northern tower which broods over Church Lane, contemporary with the tower is the southern windows of the chancel and west window of the southern arcade. Much else is from both the later 14th century and the 15th century and in the Perpendicular style best evidenced by the impressive clerestory and by the 2-storey annexe that projects into Church Lane. A recessed spire was added to the tower during this period too. The Victorian restoration came in 1884 and rebuilt the topmost stages of the tower as well as refreshing much else. A small widening of Church Lane allows a single car to safely park on the verge. The views of the tower, given its position are from Church Lane but from the south the church presents and uninterrupted and splendid view for the photographer.