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

The Parish

The parish of Kidderminster is located in the extreme northwest of Worcestershire forming not only part of the border with neighbouring Shropshire (through the shared parish of Dowles) but also with a short stretch of Staffordshire. Kidderminster is one of the major towns of its county and is located on the banks of the River Stour (a significant tributary of the Severn) about 14 miles north of the county town of Worcester. Kidderminster is a major crossroads with the A456 running to it from Birmingham meeting the A449 running north from Worcester. Kidderminster is reputed to have a pre-Roman origin but these claims are disputed. The earliest clear reference to a settlement here is in 736 when land was granted by the Mercian King to Earl Cynuberht for the founding of a minster, the presumed predecessor of today's church. Granted borough status by the early 13th century Kidderminster grew as a significant weaving centre and market for the local area, the local "Kidderminster Stuff", a coarse woollen fabric, was used to cover floors and this gradually transcended into the industry which grew Kidderminster substantially. Renewed for its carpet making which was introduced in 1736 and by 1784 there were 300 carpet looms within the town. With the arrival of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal trade exploded and this was further enhanced when railway lines from Oxford & Wolverhampton linked the town to the rest of the nation. Population grew with the trade, rising by almost 4 times the starting population of what had been a large market town. Whilst some decline in the basal industry has occurred, today Kidderminster is still a major industrial centre and market for its hinterland and has spread almost 2 miles from both north to south and also from east to west. The Stour drains the parish southwards running the short distance to join the Severn at Stourport from here it continues south to reach the sea through the Bristol Channel. Kidderminster's centre lies at around 40 metres above the sea rising steadily to the western suburbs at close to 70 metres, land continues to rise to the northwest topping out at nearly 180 metres near Trimpley. Kidderminster parish was extensive, one of the largest in the area, it covered an area of close to 11,500 acres although this included that area within the chapelry of Lower Mitton. As stated the population grew substantially from close to 4,000 at the start of this transcript reaching nearer 17,000 by its end. In Domesday times Kidderminster was a holding of King William and a profitable one too, offering an impressive 25 ploughs, 4 leagues of forest together with 3 mills, a fishery and 2 salthouses it is clear to see why the King kept this for himself.

The Church

The 20th century has not treated St Mary well as the town's decision to slice its inner ring road right between the church and the town has left it as Pevsner decries "a crime against the town". St Mary's church is the largest parish church in its county and at 215 feet long an impressive sight. Whilst documentary evidence cites a consecration of the present building to 1315 there is little remaining of this period, the chancel uses a style (Decorated) which is characteristic of that date but the work is mimicry by the Victorians. The western tower in bold Perpendicular style is more typical of the main date for the fabric carrying a late 15th century stamp from Pevsner. Early 16th century is given for the nave, with its classically styled clerestory characteristic of the need to improve lighting for the interior. It is to the Victorian era that one must look for much else with extensive work continuing right through to the 20th century. The creation of the busy dual-carriageway through the town left St Mary with a narrow access road, St Mary's Ringway, which leads to substantial car park. An extensive paved area faces the busy road and contains the war memorial, massive wrought iron gates lead through to the churchyard. The church sits on a bluff high above the Stour and the views of the tower are better from across the river than within the otherwise tightly enclosing churchyard, many trees hug the eastern end and restrict the full splendour of the landscape view.