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

The Parish

The parish of Cricklade St Mary is situated in the market town of Cricklade in the north of Wiltshire close to its border with neighbouring Gloucestershire. St Mary is the junior parish of two in Cricklade, the larger being St Sampson. The town of Cricklade sits at an importing crossing of the River Thames, here being called the Isis, where the A419 connecting Swindon to Cirencester and Gloucester crosses the river. Cricklade's origins are possibly pre-Roman although it was almost certainly an important way station on their Ermine Way (covered by today's A419). The parish sits in the north of the market town almost completely surrounded by the larger St Sampson, it is very much the junior parish with a population 1/4 that of its larger neighbour. Cricklade is sited at about 80 metres above sea-level and is surrounded by a level agricultural heartland much prone to flooding in prior periods. The parish was a small and urban one and supported about 500 parishioners. There are many references to Cricklade in Domesday Book although it does not have its own detailed entry.

The Church

St Mary's church is sited adjacent to the north-south running High Street close to where it runs down to the river and the crossing. The church has a very early origin, many features are Norman notably the chancel arch. The tower is a mixture of 13th century and later Perpendicular additions. The church, however, has been greatly restored albeit based on a largely Perpendicular base. St Mary's church is sited at right angles and flush to the High Street, particularly its eastern wall which appears to crowd the adjoining pavement. The church appears almost slotted into the urban townscape and is hemmed in by houses to north and south. A low stone wall topped by iron railings bounds the graveyard. The church has now transferred from Anglican to supporting the local Catholic community as a Catholic place of worship as there are fewer active parishioners in Cricklade to support two Anglican churches.