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

The Parish

The parish of Stapleford lies in the southern portion of central Wiltshire roughly 8 miles northwest of the county town of Salisbury. Stapleford  sits on and immediately north of the A36 road which links Salisbury with Warminster following the banks of the River Wylye. Stapleford  is a linear village, it has a small presence on the A36 but extends northwards along the side valley formed by the River Till, also matched by a significant numbered road the B3083, for between a quarter and a half mile with properties lining both sides of the B3083. Stapleford  sits within this deeply cut valley with broad rolling chalk downs to either side, that position gave it access to not only the traditional sheep runs of the chalk downs but richer grazing alongside the river. The Till meets the Wylye a quarter mile south of Stapleford, matters turn southeast until the Wiltshire Avon is met before the latter continues southward to reach the English Channel through Christchurch Harbour. Stapleford  is sited at around 70 metres above the sea, outwith its valley setting land rises steeply onto the rolling downs which top out at 167 metres at nearby Yarnbury Castle's ancient hill-fort. Stapleford  parish was fairly typically sized for its area, covering around 2,000 acres it would have supported a population of close to 300 parishioners most within Stapleford, itself, or its near neighbour Serrington. In Domesday times Stapleford was held by a Saxon survivor, Swein of Essex, and was a wealthy holding offering 10 ploughs, the usual meadows, pasture & woodland and there were 2 mills too.

The Church

St Mary's church sits on the eastern side of the B3083 as it curves around the southern edges of the village en route to the A36. St Mary is a church with ancient fabric remaining, 12th century Norman Romanesque work can be found in three main areas of the church, the northwestern buttresses of the nave being the earliest and dated to the early 12th century, in the southern doorway which Pevsner dates as late 12th century and also in the impressive piers of the 4-bay southern arcade from the same period. These mighty piers are 3 feet in diameter and neatly banded in alternate white & green stone. Moving onward to the 13th century one finds the chancel in the Early English Gothic style of that century as indicated by its pointed southern doorway and lancet northwestern window. The tower, unconventionally placed to the northwest, is the next in date sequence and is Decorated in style from the early 14th century, its bell-stage is a 17th century replacement, however, At the same time as the tower was built a transept was also added and the chancel remodelled whilst later and Perpendicular in style a southern porch was a similar addition and the church acquired a typical piece of the period, a clerestory. Two phases of Victorian restoration are noted in 1861 the nave was the focus whilst in short order in 1870 the chancel was tackled to leave today's church. At the bend of the B3083 a triangular rough parking area enables a number of cars to get off road, a rising pathway follows the road to the entrance to the churchyard. The main path to the church is flanked by substantial bushy evergreens which provide a challenge to the photographer taking from the traditional aspects but otherwise there are no major difficulties.