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

The Parish

The parish of Norbury lies in the extreme southwest of Derbyshire forming a lengthy stretch, here formed by the course of the River Dove, with neighbouring Staffordshire. Norbury is located roughly 5 miles southwest of the market town of Ashbourne and sits on the B5033 road, a link road between the A515 (Ashbourne to Lichfield) road and the B5032 (Ashbourne to Cheadle) road. Norbury is primarily an estate village with a few properties just beyond the grounds of Norbury Manor & Old Hall, nowadays managed by the National Trust. The principal village within the parish is Roston just under a mile to the south with properties scattered along a west to east running lane. The parish was renowned for its wooded delights, early gazetteers listing the many species of trees hereabouts. The estate dictated the main economic activities with pastoral farming methods dominating by 3:1 over arable. Modern developments have come and gone from the parish, a branch railway line down the Dove valley having closed and been largely removed. The Dove drains the parish southwards eventually reaching the mighty Trent which is joined for its lengthy journey to the North Sea arriving through the Humber estuary. Norbury is sited at 120 metres above the sea with land rising, across the Dove to the north, into the southern Peak District wherein heights of 371 metres are reached on the Weaver Hills within a few miles. Covering just under 2,500 acres Norbury parish was fairly typical of mid-height Derbyshire, that acreage would have supported a population of close to 500 parishioners. In Domesday times Norbury was held by Henry de Ferrers and was a relatively prosperous holding offering 12 ploughs backed by typical meadows and woodland and there was a mill too presumably on the Dove.

The Church

St Mary & St Barlok's church, the dedication is unique but very little is known of St Barlok's life other than being a medieval saint of Anglo-Saxon England, sits within the grounds of the estate immediately east of the hall and almost within the Dove itself. The site is genuinely picturesque with extensive woodland around. Pevsner is inspired to describe the church as showing "noble grandeur" in the form of its much lauded chancel. The church shows an unusual floor plan with a southern placed tower betwixt two chapels, archaeological excavations have suggested the church and hall were once conjoined. The dimensions of the chancel at 14.2 metres rivals those of the nave at 14.9 metres and give rise to an impression of great breadth. The chancel dates from the early Decorated period of the 14th century, perhaps better described as Transitional since it was almost certainly commenced within the 13th. Documentary evidence places the construction of both nave and tower within the life of Nicholas Fitzherbert who dies in 1473, they are both Perpendicular in style as is the northern aisles added by his son Ralph. Building spread into the 16th century when the chapel west of the tower was completed. For once there is no mention by Pevsner of a Victorian restoration so we see the church as the builders intended. Parking for both hall and church is alongside the main drive allowing the photographer to compose the grand vista of the southern aspect, the woodland restricts other angles, however.