England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Firbeck St Martin

The Parish

The parish of Firbeck lies in the extreme south of Yorkshire forming a stretch of the county's border with neighbouring Nottinghamshire. Firbeck was, until the early 18th century, a chapelry of Laughton en le Morthen. Firbeck is located roughly 3 miles southeast of the small market town of Maltby and sits a half mile south of the A634 road which connects Blyth with Rotherham. Firbeck is a linear village lying along the valley of a tributary of the River Ryton, the northeastern end being filled with the parkland adjoining Firbeck Hall, the 16th century mansion upgraded into an 18th century home for Henry Gally Knight. Most properties line New Road which runs southwestwards from here for a quarter mile. Whilst most land was farmed, early gazetteers estimate 75% as arable, the northwestern portion of the parish was dominated by Roche Abbey which sat on high quality limestone much exploited for decorative stonework. Lamb Lane Dyke drains the parish into Firbeck Dyke which becomes Oldcotes Dyke beyond that village before meeting the Ryton, the Ryton in turn heads north to quickly meet the Idle and eventually the tidal Trent before the Humber Estuary and the North Sea. Firbeck is sited at around 50 metres above the sea in gently rising terrain westwards, heights up to 150 metres are met before reaching Rotherham westwards. At just under 1,300 acres Firbeck was towards the smaller end of Yorkshire's scale, that acreage supporting a population of close to 200 parishioners. Firbeck is not mentioned in Domesday Book.

The Church

St Martin's church would be unrecognisable to most of the participants in these marriages, it would also have probably been known to them as St Peter, as the church was completely rebuilt in 1820 at the expense of the Knight family. The church sits on the northern side of New Road opposite to Kid Lane.  The resulting church is described by Pevsner as built in a "queer lancet style" and consisted of a western tower attached to the standard nave and chancel layout. However despite the modern completion many changes have since been wrought, in 1844 an extension was added but in 1887 this was changed once again into a northern aisle complete with, as Pevsner states, a "hideous Neo-Norman arcade". Furthermore in 1900 the original western tower was demolished to be replaced by today's northwestern version. It is clear from the language used that Pevsner was less than delighted with the church that has arisen. New Road is suitable for on-street parking outside the churchyard which is set behind local limestone walling and entered through wooden gates opposite Kid Lane. The churchyard is open & uncluttered with no significant obstacles for the photographer.