England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Buttington All Saints

The Parish

The parish of Buttington lies in the extreme east of Montgomeryshire forming a substantial stretch of the border with neighbouring Shropshire & England. Buttington is located roughly 2 miles northeast of the market town of Welshpool and sits on the A458 road which connects Welshpool with Shrewsbury. Nuttington parish lines the banks of the River Severn and includes both the smaller settlements of Hope & Cletterwood as well as the much larger Trewern which is larger than Buttington itself. Buttington is a crossroads settlement with most properties clustered around the junction of A458 & B4388 where sits the church. The local economy is dominated by pastoral farming, the rich water-meadows of the Severn, whilst severely flood-prone, provide rich grazing for cattle whilst the more upland reaches of the parish carry the usual Welsh sheep. Modern developments have come to Buttington as the railway line from Welshpool to Shrewsbury passes through the parish and there was once a branch line north to Oswestry too albeit that has been dismantled. An additional source of revenue today is the Offa's Dyke National Trail which passes through Buttington which provides the usual services of overnight stays and refreshments. The Severn drains the parish, initially northeastwards before performing a vast curve to head back south on a long journey to the sea arriving through the Bristol Channel. Buttington is sited at around 70 metres above the sea with Trewern some 20 metres higher, land rises steeply, however, reaching 403 metres at the nearby Beacon Ring hill fort, providing vast views to Offa's Dyke hikers on the descent to Buttington.Upland parishes are traditionally much larger than those on lower ground and Buttington was typical in that respect, covering close to 4,500 acres it would have supported a population of around 800 parishioners. Like most of Wales Buttington is not mentioned in Domesday Book, however nearby Leighton is so mentioned the coverage being sparse hereabouts rather than nonexistent.

The Church

All Saints' church sits right at the above mentioned junction of A458 & B4388 with the southwestern quadrant of that junction and opposite the Green Dragon Inn. The church has its origins in the late 13th century, a few windows of the Decorated style grace the sanctuary. Most other detailing dates from the slightly later Perpendicular style of the 14th or 15th century, perhaps a rebuild during that era, certainly the nave & chancel roofing is dateable to that later century. Later additions include the timber porch with documented date of 1686 and the usual Victorian restorations which were light and fairly sensitive in this case. Today's whitewash gives a stark rendition to the church but matches the Inn's opposite, both landmarks for hiker and motorist alike. Parking is either best sought with the inn or well away from the junction in the B4388. A low stone wall surrounds with metal gates at the junction forming the main entrance. Unusually the church has a northeast to southwest axis and given the close proximity of trees to the western end views of the weatherboarded bell turret are restricted in an otherwise obstacle-free churchyard.