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

The Parish

The parish of Lockington lies in southeastern Yorkshire, within the East Riding, roughly 6 miles north of the market town of Beverley. Lockington sits just over a mile west of the A164 road which links Beverley with Driffield. There are two distinct areas to the village, in the north runs the main lane with properties lying alongside the brook that runs through the heart of the village, to the south is a triangular extension including the church which carries the name of Thorpe. Lockington sits on the eastern flanks of the Yorkshire Wolds which rise westwards, the location gave mixed farming conditions, with arable on lower ground, sheep runs on higher land and cattle pasture on the lower ground eastwards towards the River Hull. Modern developments have come to the area, the railway line from Beverley to Driffield cutting through the eastern portion of this long and thin parish. At one time a short canal connecting the village with the Hull was constructed but there is little evidence of this nowadays. Lockington is drained eastwards by the Bryan Mills Beck which soon reaches the Hull where water turns south to meet the outer Humber Estuary through the port of Hull. Lockington is sited at around 15 metres above the sea but the Wolds rise westwards to local high points around 70 metres at Hole Wold. Lockington parish was fairly large for this area covering 3,000 acres it would have supported a population of close to 400 parishioners. Domesday Lockington was a tiny place of a mere 9 households, held by Count Robert of Mortain its could muster just 4 ploughs but did have a mill.

The Church

St Mary's church sits at the southeastern corner of the triangle of lanes that make up Thorpe, it sits at the end of Church Lane from where footpaths continue over to Scorborough. The height-line of the church is the first thing that strikes the visitor with the normal height chancel being separated from the western, squat, tower by a low-pitched nave, to Pevsner's eyes it resembled an early train. The earliest features of the church are 12th century and Norman Romanesque, typically early features include the southern doorway and the chancel arch. In addition to these elements the nave appears to have also originated in the 12th century with the northern wall preserving such styling. The nave was extended westwards in the 13th century and the western tower added to complete that run, both are Early English Gothic accordingly. Moving eastwards the chancel is found to have early 14th century reticulated tracery of the Decorated style. The final medieval element is the 2-bay Perpendicular style arcade and southern chapel. The 17th century saw the tower take today's form whereby the top was rebuilt in brick contrasting with its oddly broad base. Restoration came late in Victorian times, in 1894, and is described by Pevsner as sensitive. Church Lane's driveable portion ends at a substantial car park allowing a relaxed and lengthy visit. The church is semi-hidden from the car park but once through that screen there is a largely open and uncluttered churchyard with few obstacles for the photographer.