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

The Parish

The parish of Linslade lies in the extreme east of Buckinghamshire forming a stretch of the border with neighbouring Bedfordshire. Linslade is located immediately across the River Ouzel from the large Bedfordshire market town of Leighton Buzzard, so much so that in 1865 the county borders were moved from that along the Ouzel westwards to incorporate Linslade today within Bedfordshire. Linslade has two separate entities, the modern Linslade is little more than a westerly extension of the suburbs of Leighton Buzzard across both Ouzel and Grand Union Canal, whereas Old Linslade sits to the north a quarter mile east of the A4146 which connects Leighton Buzzard with Bletchley. Linslade had its origins as a complementary market town which lay roughly 1 mile northwest of the present centre, granted a market by Henry III and with a "holy well" attracting pilgrims it was equal in prominence to its Bedfordshire neighbour. Gradually over the centuries Leighton Buzzard grew into dominance and Linslade waned such that all but a few traces of the market town of Linslade has disappeared by the 19th century. Today's New Linslade is largely 19th century and later whilst Old Linslade is little more than a hamlet. The rural area of Linslade parish would have seen a mixed farming regime at the time of this transcript, early gazetteers estimate slightly over 50% set to pasture. Modern developments have come in abundance to Linslade, the Grand Union Canel carving its way along the Ouzel's valley shortly followed by one of London's railway lines to Birmingham giving Linslade a station and a boost in population. The Ouzel drains the parish northwards, skirting the New Town of Milton Keynes to reach the Great Ouse from where it heads to the North Sea arriving through The Wash. Linslade is sited at around 90 metres above the sea land rises only gently westwards reaching almost 140 metres on the road to Wing. Linslade parish was fairly typically sized for its area, covering a little over 1,600 acres it would have supported a population of close to 900 parishioners. In Domesday ties Linslade was held by Hugh de Beauchamp and was a relatively prosperous place even then, 15 ploughs, some meadows and a mill made for a comfortable income.

The Church

St Mary's church sits in splendid isolation within fields to the east of Old Linslade road and close by to the Grand Union Canal. This is a church which even Pevsner is loath to date, its fabric made of dark ironstone being "of indeterminate date". Forensic examination, however, did reveal to him the early 12th century chancel arch of Norman Romanesque style whilst details remain pre-restoration of 16th century Perpendicular work notably in the western tower. Much else dates from twin restorations in Victorian times, the first of 1877 saw a new porch added and most windows replaced along with the nave roof, a further restoration 20 years later added to the loss of dating detail. A short spur lane leads eastwards from Old Linslade Road headed for church and manor house, a small parking area sits outside the gates to an extensive churchyard covering both the old churchyard and the modern town cemetery. Strangely the church sits within the southeastern corner of this vast area tight to the corner and restricting the optimal angles severely for the photographer, making for a tricky subject on a sunny day  despite the open ground to north and west.