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

The Parish

The parish of Skirpenbeck lies in southern Yorkshire within the East Riding but forming a stretch of the border with the North Riding, that border being formed by the course of the River Derwent. Skirpenbeck is located roughly 10 miles northeast of the city of York and stands a half mile north of the A166 road which links York with Great Driffield. Skirpenbeck is a linear village with most properties lying along a lane which parallels the Skirpen Beck, the village runs for around a half mile in length from the church in the east westwards. Skirpenbeck is a farming parish, early gazetteers estimate around 2/3rds of the parish acreage as set to arable with pastures and meadows along the floodplain of the Derwent. The Skirpen Beck, from which the village takes its name, sends water westwards into the nearby Derwent which carries it southwards passing the battle site of Stamford Bridge, where King Harold made a victory before heading for Hastings, to meet the Ouse and join the other Yorkshire Dales rivers in reaching the North Sea through the Humber Estuary. Skirpenbeck is sited at around 20 metres above the sea, away from the influence of the Derwent land rises gently eastwards for 3 miles before the escarpment of the Yorkshire Wolds is met and tops out at 236 metres on Bishop Wilton Wold. By the standards of this area Skirpenbeck parish was rather small in extent, covering just over 1,600 acres it would have supported a population of close to 200 parishioners. In Domesday times Skirpenbeck was an equally small rural farming manor held by a bowman Odo it offered 7 ploughs and had a mill, presumably turned by the Beck and still present in early modern times.

The Church

St Mary's church sits on the northern side of the village's only lane at its eastern end and overlooking fields. As can readily be seen there are 2 distinct ages to the church, one early and another rather more modern. The main body of the church is very early and has its origins in the 12th century being Norman Romanesque in style. Pevsner points out the small windows of the northern side of the nave as typical examples of the style. The chancel has a more mixed set of windows as some were replaced in the 13th century with lancets from the Early English Gothic era whilst its east window is Perpendicular and late 14th century or early 15th. Standing in stark contrast is the late 18th century brick tower, a rather skinny tower with a low pyramidal topping. As is usual a Victorian restoration is recorded, here it came relatively late in 1894 it did not add any significant fabric merely a restoration and refresh. Outside the churchyard there are broad grassy verges suitable for parking outside the gates from where a path runs to the church, the churchyard has no significant obstacles for the photographer.