Churchwardens Accounts Of St Martins Leicester 1489-1844

Unlock 350 Years of Leicester's History: The Churchwardens' Accounts of St Martin's, 1489-1844

Step beyond the names and dates of traditional parish registers and immerse yourself in the vibrant, living world of your Leicester ancestors. Spanning more than three and a half centuries—from the age of the Tudors to the dawn of the Victorian era—this meticulously transcribed collection of the Churchwardens' Accounts for St Martin's, Leicester, is an unparalleled resource for any family historian with roots in the city.

As the mother church of Leicester, St Martin's (now Leicester Cathedral) was at the very heart of community life. Its accounts are not just about money; they are the detailed, year-by-year story of the town and its people. These records capture the hum of daily life, the impact of national events, and the names of countless ordinary individuals who built, maintained, and lived within the parish.

Inside this essential genealogical resource, you will discover:

Names of Your Ancestors: Find your forebears listed in roles you won't find elsewhere—carpenters, masons, glaziers, bell-ringers, musicians, and labourers, all paid for their work on the church.

Recipients of Parish Support: Discover the names of individuals and families who received "alms" or poor relief, providing crucial clues during times of hardship.

Insights into Daily Life & Economy: Learn the price of bread, the wages of a tradesman, and the cost of repairing a church window. These details paint a vivid picture of your ancestors' economic reality.

Community & Social Customs: Read about parish celebrations (ales and feasts), the annual "beating of the bounds," and the maintenance of roads and bridges, all managed by the churchwardens.

Details of Church Life: See the physical evolution of St Martin's itself through records of new pews, bell castings, organ maintenance, and repairs to the fabric of the building.
Who is this for?

Genealogists tracing family in Leicester before 1837.

Local and Social Historians researching the development of a major English city.
Anyone with Leicester ancestry wishing to understand the world their family inhabited.
Don't just research your family—experience their world. Add the Churchwardens' Accounts of St Martin's, Leicester, to your collection and bring the rich history of your ancestors to life.