England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Meriden St Lawrence

The Parish

The parish of Meriden lies in northwestern portion of central Warwickshire roughly 6 miles northwest of the city of Coventry. Meriden sits on the former route of the A45 road which links Birmingham with Coventry, thankfully that road now follows a bypass to Meriden's north. The original village was a largely linear affair stretching in three distinct blocks along the old A45 from that of the church in the east to Meriden Green in the west, that in the middle around Meriden Hall being the largest. Modern developments have expanded the village from the old A45 route almost as far as its newer one filling a triangular area formed between the old A45 and the B4102 which cuts across it diagonally. Meriden's chief claim to fame is its reputation for being the centre-point of England, it is certainly a long way from the sea in every direction; the fact was allegedly proven by creating a cut-out diagram of the land and finding the point of balance in every dimension, that point was Meriden. At the time of this transcript it would have primarily been a farming community, early gazetteers estimate as much as 75% of the parish acreage was set to arable. In addition there were quarries for both the local red sandstone and briefly for a harder free-stone. Modern developments have come in abundance, both the A45 and A452 are now fast dual-carriageways whilst the M6 motorway grazes the northern part of the parish. Meriden is drained northwards by the River Blythe which merges with the Anker at Tamworth to become the Tame, further north it reaches the Trent and turns eastwards on the long journey to the North Sea. Meriden sits in rising ground from 110 metres at its westernmost point to 150 metres close to its church, there is no higher ground for some distance all around. Covering almost 2,800 acres Meriden parish was a large one supporting a population of just under 1,100 parishioners. Meriden stood within the Royal Hunting Forest of Arden at Domesday and consequently was considered to be private ground for the court's use, it is therefore not mentioned in Domesday Book.

The Church

St Lawrence' church stands well to the east of the village centre, a full half mile eastwards along the old A45 and then accessed by the out-and-back lane of Church Lane. The earliest fabric within the church dates to the 12th century, the chancel (before 13th century extension) is 12th century Norman Romanesque and portions of the west end of the nave between the arcades and the western tower are also of the same vintage. The chancel was extended in the 13th century and given Early English Gothic styled windows, the east window is the exception being a later and Perpendicular addition. Also in Perpendicular styling one finds two differing ages to the arcades, the southern in the earlier form dates from c1400 while the northern is later in the 1th century and noticeably different. Also from the same era is the western tower, Perpendicular in structure but given 17th century tracery. Restoration and rebuild came early in Georgian times with much work carried out in 1827 wherein the aisle walls were given high transomed 3-light windows to improve the internal lighting. Further work came in typical Victorian times removed the galleries introduced in 1827 as part of a typical restoration of 1883; work has continued into the 20th century with 1924 seeing a restoration and 1979 adding a meeting room and gallery. Church Lane broadens markedly outside the metal gates allowing safe parking, within a shady chestnut-tree lined path leads to the church, unfortunately a single but substantial tree hogs the favoured southeastern aspects but most other angles are available for the photographer.