BELBROUGHTON

Descriptive Notes:

Belbroughton once had an extensive manufactory for scythes, hay-knives, &c. and included the once internationally renowned scythe makers Nash & Waldron. Scythes were made in the village until 1968.

Directories:
BELBROUGHTON, a parish in the lower division of the hundred of HALFSHIRE, county of WORCESTER, 5 miles (N. W. by N.) from Bromsgrove, containing 1476 inhabitants. The living is a rectoiy, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Worcester, rated in the king's books at £19, and in the patronage of the President and Fellows of St. John's College, Oxford. The church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, has recently received an additional number of sittings, by means of a grant of £ 100 from the Incorporated Society for enlarging churches and chapels. Here is an extensive manufactory for scythes, hay-knives, &c. Fairs are held on the last Monday in April, and the Monday before St. Luke's day. A sheriff's court, for the recovery of small debts, is held on the third Wednesday in every month. There is an endowment of about £10 per annum for the instruction of poor children. The parish is divided into four yields, viz., those of Belbroughton, Brian's Bell with Moor-Hall Bell, Forfield, and Broomhill. [Typographical Dictionary of England 1831 by Samuel Lewis]

Status:
Ancient Parish [25]

Fairfield was a chapel of ease to Belbroughton (see below)

Location:
Ref: SO919769
On the B4188, 2½ miles South of Hagley, 5 miles east of Kidderminster & 4½ miles N.W. of Bromsgrove
Bell End & Fairfield are hamlets 1 mile N.E. and 3 miles S.E. respectively. Bell Heath and Maidley are 1 mile and ¾ mile east  respectively. [57]

Parish Church:
Holy Trinity
Fairfield: St.Marks is at SO948752

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction:
Archdeaconry & Diocese of Worcester until 1974, Archdeaconry of Dudley & Diocese of Worcester (1974 - *) [25]

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

Poor Law Union:
Bromsgrove [3] [25]

Adjoining Parishes:
Clent; Romsley; Bromsgrove; Chaddesley Corbett; Broom [1]

Parish Registers for Belbroughton:

		Coverage	Source
Microform at WLHC	Christenings	1540-1969	[5]
	Marriages	1540-1980	[5]
	Burials	1540-1967	[5]
	Banns	1754-1823, 1948-60	[5]
Originals at WRO	Banns	1948-71	[12]

Parish Registers for Fairfield:

		Coverage	Source
Microform at WLHC	Christenings	1898-1970	[5]
	Marriages	1886-1981	[5]
	Burials	1897-1971	[5]
Originals at WRO	Burials	1897-1996	[12]
	Banns	1886-1955	[12]

Bishops' Transcripts:
Begin 1615 Worcestershire Library and History Centre [22]

International Genealogical Index (IGI):
[19]

		Coverage
Parish Registers	Births / Christenings	1540-1877
	Marriages	1540-1876

Register Copies:
Christenings, Marriages & Burials 1615-1700 (BTs) Microfilm - Published: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1960 Society of Genealogists [68]

Monumental Inscriptions and Associated Documents:
Holy Trinity BMSGH microfiche [53]
St.Mark, Fairfield BMSGH microfiche [53]
MIs for Belbroughton and Fairfield at Worcestershire Library and History Centre [51]

At Society of Genealogists [59] :
Holy Trinity: Worcestershire monumental inscriptions vol. 13 [Typescript.] - Published Birmingham : Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry, 1993
St. Mark: Worcestershire monumental inscriptions vol. 13 [Typescript.] - Published Birmingham : Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry, 1994 - Author: Wright, A J L et al.

Census Records:
Access to all the censuses between 1841 and 1901 is now widely available on the library edition of Ancestry.co.uk at most record offices. You are strongly advised to book time on their computers before making a visit.
Many commercial organisations have issued CDs and DVDs covering all the censuses from 1841 to 1901.

Some repositories offer census details on microfiche as listed below:
1841-1901 at Worcestershire Library and History Centre [14]
1851 Census Worcestershire, vol. 10 Bromsgrove transcript & surname index : part 1 Stoke Prior & Bromsgrove (part); part 2 Belbroughton, Clent, Hagley, Pedmore, Frankley, Hunnington, Romsley, Tutnall & Cobley, Bromsgrove (part); part 3 Tardebigg, Tutnal & Cobley, Bentley Pauncefoot, Webheath, Redditch & Alvechurch - Published Birmingham : Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry, 1993-5 - Author: Friend, A F (trans.) Society of Genealogists

Search Services (Fee paying) - BMSGH and Independent:
Burial 1660-1897 Worcestershire Burial Index
Marriage see Worcestershire Marriage Index

Manorial Records:
Worcestershire Record Office [50]

Parish Records on microform at Worcestershire Library and History Centre [13]
List of all the yard lands and half yard lands and nooks of land in the parish of Belbroughton 1620
Register of services 1945-51, 1959-68
Parochial church council and vestry meetings- signed minutes 1927-33, 1950-69
Vestry meeting order book 1741-69
Vestry meeting minute book, with lists of persons nominated to serve as Parish Officers and mention of apprentices and masters 1779-1818
Poor relief rate book with later notes 1802
Poor relief account book 1831-6

Schools Records:
The following school records are original documents. Note reference number and contact staff at Worcestershire Record Office:
Fairfield Mixed School
Log book - 1905 - 60 - Ref: BA 7527

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

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© Arthur Lewis and contributors 2008
Comments, additions, corrections etc to Arthur Lewis
Last updated on 19th March 2008

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