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

The Parish

The parish of Tewkesbury lies in northern Gloucestershire, such that it forms a couple of short stretches of the border with neighbouring Worcestershire. Tewkesbury is located within the Severn Vale and some 10 miles north of the county town of Gloucester. Tewkesbury is a large market town, the principal market for northern Gloucestershire & southern Worcestershire, which sits at the confluence of the Rivers Avon & Severn. The major A38 road which connects Birmingham with Bristol passes through the town crossing the Avon to enter. Tewkesbury has a long existence, said to have been founded in Saxon times, it was expanded as a market centre by the Normans who constructed the Benedictine Abbey of St Mary in the early 12th century, consecrated in 1121. The town has featured in military conflicts, in the Wars of the Roses and the Civil War, being repeatedly fought over. Tewkesbury position by the Severn enabled a substantial trade in goods moved along the waterways, its market growing to serve the hinterland of both counties rich in pastures and livestock accordingly. Industry also came to the town, framework knitting became important as well as agricultural oriented businesses such as malting. Modern developments have been rather hit & miss, the town was somewhat bypassed by the rail line from Birmingham to Bristol, a branch line being closed by Beching, but the modern M5 motorway passes just a mile away bringing business and tourism to the town. Tewkesbury's position at the confluence of two major rivers has, however, often brought consequences and flooding of the town has been an urgent issue. The Severn drains southwards to meet the Bristol Channel through its estuary. Tewkesbury is sited at between 10 metres and 20 metres above the sea, the flatness of the Vale meaning local heights reach little higher for some distance. Despite Tewkesbury's market town status it's acreage as a parish was fairly typical of the Severn Vale area, covering just under 1,900 acres it would have supported a population of close to 5,700 parishioners. In Domesday times Tewkesbury was a personal possession of King William, as such its assets were somewhat redacted but did reveal 17 ploughs, extensive meadows, 2 mills, 2 fisheries and 2 salthouses making for a wealthy place indeed.

The Church

St Mary's church is the Abbey church founded in the early 12th century to support the Benedictine abbey, much of the abbey's other buildings, of course, were removed following and during the dissolution. St Mary is one of the country's finest Norman works and the space here is too little to adequately convey the history of this magnificent building. Other works, including Pevsner, explain the history and beauty far better. Suffice it to say that the majority of the building, with the exception of the eastern end, was constructed during a single phase commencing in the late 11th and finishing long after consecration in 1121. The church is dominated by the immense 12th century tower which Pevsner describes as "probably the largest & finest Romanesque tower in England". The eastern end is dominated by chapels added during the 14th century in the Decorated style whereas the northern transept has earlier Early English Gothic doorways. Of course there has been much reworking over the centuries but this has done little to reduce the magnificence of the church which merits a full day's visit. There are several approaches but most will enter from the large car park on Gander Lane. The site is extensive and a centrepiece to the town, obviously such a large building can be difficult to fully encompass in photographs.