England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Appleby St Michael

The Parish

Appleby is a market town in northeastern Westmorland, it comprises two parishes of which St Michael is the smaller. It is an ancient place with origins in the Roman period. St Michael's parish covers the southern part of the town and a slice of adjacent countryside. Appleby is situated on a crossing of the River Eden with the A66 now bypassing the town giving it a more peaceful air. With its valley setting Appleby is only 130 metres above sea level and the surrounding countryside (until you come to the adjacent Pennines) is not that much higher. The countryside is pastoral with cattle and sheep grazing in small fields. Appleby received its market from Henry I, again indicative of its ancient presence. Despite these ancient records Appleby, in common with much of northern England was not mentioned in Domesday Book. The market town being divided into two parishes had a combined population around 2,500 parishioners of which approximately 1,100 were in St Michael's parish.

The Church

St Michael's church is sited in Bongate which forms the B6542 (previously A66) heading southwards out of the market town. The church sits in a well wooded and quite steeply sloping site at the junction of Bongate with Mill Hill. There is evidence that the church was at least Norman and possibly earlier - the north doorway is clearly Saxon. However, there is documentary evidence that the church was extensively renovated by Lady Anne Clifford (in the 17th century). Despite these assertions some features remain of a church in the Early English Gothic period of the early 13th century.