England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Pershore Holy Cross & St Edburga

The Parish

Pershore is a medium sized market town situated in the south central portion of Wocrestershire. Pershore is divided into 2 parishes that of St Andrew, forming the southern part of the town and the Abbey parish of the Holy Cross & St Edburga holding the centre and remainder. Pershore is located about 9 miles south east of the city of Worcester and sits on the northern banks of the River Avon. Pershore sits about 2 miles southwest of the A44, the main route between Worcester and London, and sits on the A4104 road which connects the A44 through to Malvern. Pershore's origins go back to early times, the Abbey was founded in the late 7th century and a Pershore received its charter from King Coenwulf as early as the 9th century. Following the Norman conquest the town was split between its own & Westminster Abbey, hence the two parishes (St Andrew being under the control of Westminster Abbey). As a regional market place it was a valued trading centre, mainly for local agricultural produce, and also some small manufacture developed notably glove making and wool stapling. Modern communications slightly bypassed Pershore as the Oxford to Wolverhampton rail line choose to follow the A44 and Pershore's station is thus 2 miles north of the town. In recent times Pershore has spread markedly in that direction almost becoming contiguous through to the A44. The Avon drains the parish southwestwards to join the Severn at Tewkesbury and thence to the Bristol Channel. Pershore is sited at just 20 metres above the sea and sits on a fairly level flood plain, albeit above the flooding levels, local heights rise to almost 60 metres on nearby Allesbborough Hill. Holy Cross & St Edburga parish is the larger of the two, it covered almost 4,400 acres and would have supported a population of around 2,100 parishioners. As mentioned Pershore, in Domesday times, was split between the two Abbeys, Holy Cross & St Edburga parish could boast 30 ploughs, meadows & pastures as well as a salthouse and 3 mills.

The Church

The Abbey church of Holy Cross & St Edburga dominates the centre of pershore sitting, as it does, within an extensive open space enclosed by the town. The Abbey was founded in 689 but the present church owes its origins to a new church which was commenced in the early 11th century following a fire of 1002. This church was extensivelt rebuilt by the Norman conquerors in or around the turn of the 12th century. A further fire, which impacted the eastern portion of the building resulted in further rebuilding in 1223. Yet more fire in 1287 resulted in the loss of the original central tower; it took until 1327 to complete its replacement. The abbey was, of course, dissolved in 1540 by Henry VIII at which time the nave & Lady Chapel were removed the remainder of the church was transferred for parochial use at Holy Cross & St Edburga. Further tragedy struck the building in 1686 when the northern transept collapsed, the present raking buttress being created to support the exposed tower. An eastern apse was added during restorations of the 1840s and 1860s whilst work continued into the 20th century. As a result of all these changes the original 325 foot crucofrm abbey church now consists merely of the stump of the nave, the crossing & tower, a southern transept plus the chancel with its Victorian apse. The church sits in its "close", a real asset for the town for leisure, there are numerous entrances and angles available for the photographer.