England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Thorganby St Helen

The Parish

The parish of Thorganby lies in southern Yorkshire within that Yorkshire peculiarity, The Ainsty, and roughly 10 miles southeast of the county town of York. Thorganby lies within an area devoid of significant numbered roads, the closest such road being the B1228 which meanders east of the River Derwent from York to Howden and which lies across the Derwent some 3 miles east of Thorganby. Thorganby is a rather linear village lying on the western banks of the Derwent, it stretches for almost a mile from north to south along a lane, which is named Main Street in the village, which parallels the river. This area is a rather low-lying part of Yorkshire which is perfect countryside for the growing of cereals, a crop which, supplemented with root vegetables and limited pastures, provided the main source of income for the village. The Derwent drains the parish southwards to meet most of the other major Yorkshire rivers for an exit to the North Sea through the Humber Estuary. Thorganby is sited at just 7 metres above the sea and some 3 metres above river height, land is at or even below sea level with no land above 10 metres for some considerable distance. For a lowland rural parish Thorganby parish was quite extensive, covering a little over 3,000 acres it would have supported a population of close to 350 parishioners. In Domesday times Thorganby was a tiny place offering just a pair of ploughs and a small wood to its landholder Ralph Paynel, what made it economical was its situation by the Derwent which gave it 8 fisheries for a major source of income.

The Church

St Helen's church sits slightly southerly of the mid point of built area along Main Street and is sited on High Street's western side. The church is described in early gazetteers as "an ancient structure in the Norman style", sadly that is not the case today as the majority of the church was completely rebuilt early in the 18th century, an unusual century for major church-building. As one would expect this work was prompted by the lord of the manor at that time, Francis Annesley. There is one remaining piece of genuine medieval, the western tower, in magnesian limestone to contrast with the 18th century brick, is in the Perpendicular style and probably of the 15th century. There is discrepancy in the account of Pevsner as compared with that of National Heritage, the latter state nave and chancel being of 1690 whereas Pevsner has the nave of 1710 & the chancel of 1719. Main Street is sufficiently broad enough to permit street parking, especially south of the site, the churchyard has a low, modern, brick wall surrounding with a neat gated lychgate for entry. The churchyard has no obvious obstacles for the photographer but as the eastern end is flush to the road, better landscape views are from outside the churchyard.