England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Abbots Morton St Peter

The Parish

The parish of Abbots Morton lies in the extreme east of Worcestershire, indeed it forms part of the border with neighbouring Warwickshire. Abbots Morton is located about 5 miles southwest of the Warwickshire market town of Alcester in a network of small lanes to the south of the A422 road which links Alcester with Worcester. Abbots Morton is a compact village with many pretty black-and-white timbered cottages mainly sited along a lane which loops northwards off the Flyford Flavell to Broom road. As its name might suggest a monastery was sited here although all that remains now is a small moated site to the north of the church. The area is richly agricultural, a mixture of arable and pastoral lands that is turning more arable in modern times. Abbots Morton is sited at around 70 metres above sea level on the southern side of the valley of the awkwardly named Piddle Brook which flows southwestwards to join the River Avon at Wyre Piddle. The parish is a relatively small one in extent, about 1,400 acres and supported around 230 parishioners. In Domesday times the land was held by the brother of the abbot of Evesham and supported 5 plough together with some woodland and meadows.

The Church

St Peter's church hides itself away behind a solid bank of mature trees at the northwestern end of the village where the looping lane starts to head east. The church carries dates from 12th (nave) to 14th (tower) centuries although most of the style is from the Decorated period which lies between. The church, in addition to the standard nave, chancel and western tower layout, has a north transept. There was some Victorian restoration but it was done sympathetically and largely involved redecoration of the interior. The church is accessed along a short track which heads westwards from the curve of the lane, the site appears to be dominated by trees but once into the graveyard there are adequate lines of site for photography.