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

The Parish

The parish of Homington lies in the south of Wiltshire not too far from its border with neighbouring Hampshire. Homington is located about 3 miles southwest of the city of Salisbury. Homington is a small and compact village sitting on the southern banks of the River Ebble, it sits in lanes about a miles south of the A354 road which links Salisbury with the Dorset market town of Blandford Forum. Most of Homington is built on a 1/4 mile stretch of lane and a parallel lane to its north, both paralleling the course of the river. The countryside is underlain by chalk and as a consequence soils would have been light and stony, more suitable for pastures (of sheep) than the mainly arable use permitted by modern machinery. The Ebble drains eastwards to joining the Wiltshire Avon and then turns south to reach the English Channel through Christchurch Harbour. Homington is sited at around 60 metres above sea level, land rises to the south on to rolling chalky downland with local heights from 110 to 170 metres above the sea. The landscape around Homington is dotted with archaeological remains including tumuli and barrows. By the standards of the area Homington was a small parish, it covered just over 1,300 acres and supported a population of around 170 parishioners. In Domesday times Homington was small place indeed, it was held by one Osbern the priest and offered just a single plough plus small meadows & pastures.

The Church

St Mary's church sits on the northern side of Homington's main east/west running lane and between its two principal lanes. The church has been heavily restored (in 1860) and much externally dates from that restoration. Pevsner hints at earlier origins as he places the southern tower into the 17th century and declares the interior shows signs of mediaeval origin. He is reticent about dating those features such is the overwhelming alterations made by the Victorians. A low flint wall topped by brick encloses the churchyard and there are entrances on both Homington & Lower Roads, that on Lower road being the obvious main entrance. A short light of paving leads to metal gateway into the churchyard. The site is relatively open with few restrictions to photography.