England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
York St Martin Coney St

The Parish

The parish of St Martin Le Grand, Coney Street, York lies in the heart of the city of York close to the River Ouse that runs through the centre of the city. York is an ancient city probably predating Roman times, albeit they made it their base in the north (Eboracum) which enabled it to become one of the most notable cities of England and one the largest in the north prior to the Industrial Revolution. York is located at the crossing of the Ouse where the A64 (Leeds to Scarborough road) meets the A19 (Selby to Thirsk) and marks also the meeting point of many significant Roman routes too. York's long history is too complex to document here and others have made a better job than I would do so you are recommended research widely. Briefly York became capital of the north of England, a major market centre for the produce of Yorkshire and a principal administrative centre both religious and secular. Today York has been somewhat overshadowed by Yorkshire's industrial towns but remains a vibrant commercial centre and a notable visitor attraction for its preserved history. Mediaeval York was divided into 23 tiny parishes and St Martin le Grand held one of the smaller populations, it would have supported just under 600 parishioners. The parish covered an area of no more than a few blocks on the northern banks of the Ouse and in the southern portion of the city. The Ouse drains through the city and reaches the North Sea through the Humber Estuary. St martin le Grand parish is sited at between 4 & 10 metres above sea level with most of the mediaeval centre lying at or below 10 metres. In Domesday times York was a major centre and taxed on a value of 103 geld units, the city was held chiefly by the King, himself, with small portions held by the Archbishop of York and one Richard son of Herfast. St Martin Le Grand parish was not specifically separately assessed.

The Church

St Martin's church is one of 2 sharing that dedication, the suffix of Coney Street is added to differentiate it. The church sits on the southern side of Coney Street, this street parallels the Ouse. St Martin was extensively damaged in World War 2 by the bombing of the Baedaker raids and was almost completely rebuilt as a result. Documentary evidence grants the presence of a church back as far as the late 12th century but nothing of that date survives today. What remains of the mediaeval church, the 14th century tower, southern aisle and southern arcade together with the 15th century nave were built upon to make the building what we see today during the 1960s. The church must have been a Perpendicular replacement or refresh of the original building. The church stands flush with its northern end against the street, there is no churchyard and the building is tightly hemmed in from the west by business premises. A narrow lane which widens by the tower permits a view from that angle but photography is severely restricted by the constrained site.