ASTLEY

Index
Descriptive Notes
Status
Location
Parish Church
Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction
Hundred
Poor Law Union
Adjoining Parishes
Parish Registers
Bishops' Transcripts
International Genealogical Index (IGI)
Register Copies
Monumental Inscriptions and Associated Documents
War Memorials
Census Records
Search Services (Fee paying)
Schools Records
Directories

Descriptive Notes:
An inscription on the four faces of a memorial in the grounds of Astley Church reads:
"At the top of this hill in Astley Hall lived and died
Stanley Baldwin 1867 1947
Three times Prime Minister
First Earl Baldwin of Bewdley K.G."

Status:
Ancient Parish [25]

Location:
O.S. Ref: SO787676
2 miles S.W. of Stourport along the A451 and B4196
Astley Town is a hamlet to the north, Seed Green is 2 miles N.E. [57] The Burff is a hamlet 1½ miles east.[57]

Parish Church:
St. Peter

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction:
Archdeaconry & Diocese of Worcester [1] [25]

Hundred:
Lower Doddingtree [11] [25] [28]

Poor Law Union:
Martley [3] [25]

Adjoining Parishes:
Areley Kings; Hartlebury; Ombersley; Shrawley; Martley; Great Witley; Abberley [1]

Parish Registers:

		Coverage	Source
Microform at WLHC	Christenings	1539-1928	[5]
	Marriages	1539-1976	[5]
	Burials	1539-1974	[5]
Originals at WRO	Marriages	1539-1987	[12]
	Banns	1754-1812, 1824-1985	[12]

Bishops' Transcripts:
Begin 1609 Worcestershire Library and History Centre [22]

International Genealogical Index (IGI):
[19]

		Coverage
Parish Registers	Births / Christenings	1539-1875
	Marriages	1539-1885
Bishops' Transcripts	Births / Christenings	1609-41
	Marriages	1660-1700 (84%)

Register Copies:
At BMSGH Reference Library [7]
Marriages 1950-1976

At Society of Genealogists [68]
ASTLEY : Marriages 1950-76 [Microfilm.]   Published Salt Lake City : Genealogical Society of Utah, 1982 

ASTLEY : Marriages(I) 1539-1630: Boyd's marriage index [Typescript.]   IN: Boyd's marriage index   Published , 1925-55   Author Boyd, Percival ed.   Source D: P Boyd.

ASTLEY : Marriages(I) 1726-1812: Boyd's marriage index [Typescript.]   IN: Boyd's marriage index   Published , 1925-55   Author Boyd, Percival ed.    Source D: P Boyd.

Monumental Inscriptions and Associated Documents:
At BMSGH Shop
St.Peter 
St.Peter New Extension

At BMSGH Reference Library [7]
St.Peter
St.Peter New Extension

At Worcestershire Library and History Centre [51]
St.Peter 

Inscriptions in church & churchyard (1910 & 1982, transcript); Inscriptions in church & churchyard (1916, microfilm); Sketch plan of new burial ground

At Society of Genealogists [59]
MIs in the current burial ground: Worcestershire monumental inscriptions, Vol.8 Typescript - Published1989 - Author: Dingley, P D (trans.)

Worcestershire monumental inscriptions, Vol.8 Typescript - Published , 1987 - Author: P.D.Dingley et al

War Memorials:
For the names of those commemorated on Astley War Memorial see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/Casualties/ListByMemorial/Astley War Memorial

For the names of those commemorated on a War Memorial at Astley School see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/Casualties/ListByMemorial/Astley School

For the names of those commemorated on a War Memorial at St Peter's Church see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/Casualties/ListByMemorial/Astley St Peter's Church

Census Records: 
All the censuses between 1841 and 1901 are now available on a number of fee-paying (Subscription or PayAsYouGo) sites including Ancestry.co.uk, FindMyPast.co.uk, thegenealogist.co.uk and genesreunited.co.uk. The 1911 census is available in full or in part on some of these sites. We are unable to advise on the choice of site since researchers' personal preferences will be influenced by the content and search facilities offered by each site. Some sites offer a free trial.

Access to the library edition of Ancestry.co.uk is widely available at most record offices, including Worcestershire Library and History Centre, and some libraries. You are advised to book time on their computers before making a visit. 

A free-to-view site is being developed at freecen.org.uk for the 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871 and 1891 censuses.  Coverage of Worcestershire parishes is rather sparse at this time.

Census returns can usually be viewed at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' Family History Centres.

Some repositories offer census details on microform, disc or printed copy. These include:

1841-1901 at Worcestershire Library and History Centre [14]
1891 includes Shrawley

Search Services (Fee paying) - BMSGH and Independent:
Burial 1670-1866 Worcestershire Burial Index
Marriage see Worcestershire Marriage Index
Parish Records on microform at Worcestershire Library and History Centre [13]
Rectors of Astley 1289-1894
Signed minutes of vestry meetings 1873-1904
Signed minutes of the Parish Church Council 1921-68
Churchwardens Account book 1831-1915
Account of the proceeds & expenses of Astley Rectory 1829-46
Copy of inscriptions in Astley Church & Churchyard 1916
Apprenticeship indentures 1756-1809
Removal orders- examination of the poor & their legal place of settlement 18th & 19th cent.
Bonds to indemnify (sic) the parish of Astley from bastard children 1674-1815
Settlement certificates 1711-1821 Marriage licenses 1855-1932

Schools Records:
The following school records are original documents. Note reference number and contact staff at Worcestershire Record Office:
Astley C E School [Formerly Infants' & Mixed Schools]
Log books, letters etc, nurses' reports, medical inspectors' notebooks -1890 - 1967 - Ref: BA 5906

A handlist of other records of schools and of other educational establishments held by Worcestershire Record Office for this parish can be found at here.

Directories:
ASTLEY, a parish in the lower division of the hundred of DODDINGTREE, county of WORCESTER, 3 miles (S. W. by S.) from Stourport, containing 784 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Worcester, rated in the king's books at £15. 13. 4, and in the patronage of the Rev. D. J.J. Cooks. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is of Norman architecture. An Alien priory of Benedictine monks, founded here by Ralph de Todeni, in the reign of William I, was annexed to the college of Westbury in that of Edward IV. Here is a school, endowed with about £20 per annum. At Redstone ferry, in the vicinity, is an ancient hermitage, excavated in a lofty cliff by the side of the river. [Typographical Dictionary of England 1831 by Samuel Lewis]

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© Arthur Lewis and contributors 2008
Comments, additions, corrections etc to Arthur Lewis
Last updated on 4th February 2012

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