BMSGH HomeBREDON
Descriptive Notes:
The
ancient ecclesiastical parish of Bredon with Bredon's Norton includes
five
villages right on the edge of southern Worcestershire, bordering the
County of
Gloucester. The largest of the villages in the parish is Bredon, the
other four
being Bredon's Norton (1 1/2 miles north), Westmancote (1 mile N.E.),
Bredon's
Hardwicke (1 1/2 miles S.W.), and Kinsham (1 mile S.E.). There are two
churches, the Parish Church of St. Giles in Bredon village, and a small
chapelry in Bredon's
Norton. In both churches regular services of
worship are
held every Sunday.
The village of Bredon is notable for its superb large 14th century medieval threshing barn which runs to an impressive 132 feet. It is noted for its dramatic aisled interior and unusual stone chimney cowling. It is now administered by the National Trust.
Status:
Ancient
Parish [25]
Bredon
included a chapel at
Welland,
which was a
separate parish perhaps by 1300, a detached chapel at
Cutsdean
(which was a
separate parish by 1866), a chapel at Bredon's Norton ( which perhaps
was a
separate parish by 1300, but its separate status was not sustained,
hence this parish is
ecclesiastically called
'Bredon with Bredon's Norton') [25]
O.S. Ref: SO920369
3½ miles N.E. of Tewkesbury along the B4080.
Westmancote is a small village and hamlet...4½ miles N.E. from Tewkesbury and 1 mile north from Bredon. Mitton, 2 miles south, was formerly a chapelry. Norton-by-Bredon is a hamlet 1 mile N.W. [57]
Parish Church:
St. Giles
Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction:
Peculiar of the incumbent / Archdeaconry & Diocese of Worcester [1] [25]
Hundred:
Middle Oswaldslow [15] [25] [28]
Poor Law Union:
Tewkesbury [3] [25]
Adjoining Parishes:
Bredons Norton; Eckington; Kemerton (Gloucestershire); Ashchurch (Gloucestershire); Tewkesbury (Gloucestershire); Twyning (Gloucestershire); Strensham [1]
Parish Registers:
| Coverage | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Microform at WLHC | Christenings | 1559-1963 | [5] |
| Marriages | 1562-1963 | [5] | |
| Burials | 1559-1963 | [5] | |
| Originals at WRO | Marriages | 1562-1968 | [12] |
| Banns | 1865-1968 | [12] |
Bishops' Transcripts:
Begin 1625 Worcestershire Library and History Centre [22]
International Genealogical Index (IGI):
[19]
| Coverage | ||
|---|---|---|
| Parish Registers | Births / Christenings | 1559-1875 |
Nonconformist:
Westmancote Baptist (founded 1779): Marriages 1928-62 Worcestershire Library and History Centre
Church roll: Baptists Kinsham Villa:1875 Gloucestershire Archives
War Memorials:
For the names of those commemorated on a War Memorial at St. Giles Church see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/Casualties/ListByMemorial/Bredon St Giles Church
For a memorial to Lieut. Hugh Donald Bennett at St Giles Churchsee:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/Casualties/ListByMemorial/Bredon St Giles Church Bennett Memorial
For a War Memorial in St Giles Church commemorating those who lost their lives in the Boer War see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/Casualties/ListByMemorial/Bredon St Giles Church Boer War Memorial
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 51 1901 at Worcestershire Library and History Centre [14]
1851 81 Gloucestershire Archives
At Society of Genealogists :
Gloucestershire 1851 Census index & transcription, vol. 19 : HO 107/1974 - [Tewkesbury registration district] Deerhurst & Overbury sub-districts - Worcestershire part: Index to the 1851 Census for Gloucestershire [Microfiche.] - Published Gloucestershire FHS, 1999
Gloucestershire 1891 census returns: Tewkesbury registration district RG 12/2049-2050 [Microfilm.] - Published London Public Record Office 2003
Search Services (Fee paying) - BMSGH and Independent:
Burial 1660-1852 Worcestershire Burial Index
Marriage see Worcestershire Marriage Index
Manorial Records:
Worcestershire Record Office [50]
Compotus rolls - various years 1375-1525; Court papers 1468-9; Court rolls - various years 1389-1500; Extent c.1265
Schools Records:
The following school records are original documents. Note reference number and contact staff at Worcestershire Record Office:
Bredon C P School
Admission registers (2 vols) - 1916 - 64 - Ref: BA 4275/2
Log books (2 vols) - 1888 - 1964 - Ref: BA 4275/1
Hancock's Endowed School
Indenture of apprenticeship of William Pearce to be a blacksmith - 1883 - Ref: BA 10413/3 (ii)
Log book of Handicraft - 1926 - 39 - Ref: BA 10413/3 (i)
Log books - 1885 - 1946 - Ref: BA 10413/1 (ii) (iii)
Register of Admissions - 1824 - 1986 - Ref: BA 10413/2 (ii) - (iv)
A handlist of other records of schools and of other educational establishments held by Worcestershire Record Office for this parish can be found here.
Other Sources:
At Society of Genealogists:
Bredon hill & its villages Published 1968 Author Lloyd, R H Edition 3rd edn Source D: L Weinstein
The parish church of S. Giles', Bredon IN: The story of St. Giles' church Bredon (cover) Published Gloucester The British Publishing Co. Ltd. Nd. Author Taylor, J F Author Birch, L J Source D: M Herber.
Tales from the
country : The distant scene, Under the parish lantern & The
secrets of
Bredon Hill - a country chronicle of the year 1900 (3 vols. in boxed
set)
Published London
: Coronet Books, 1973 Author
Archer, Fred Source D:
C Mills.
Directories:
BREDON, a parish comprising the chapelry of Norton, and the hamlets of Bredon, Hardwick with Mittons, Kinsham, and Westmancote in the middle division, and the chapelry of Cutsdean in the upper division, of the hundred of OSWALDSLOW, county of WORCESTER, and containing 1239 inhabitants, 3¾ miles (N. E. by N.) from Tewkesbury. The living is a rectory, in the peculiar jurisdiction of the rector, rated in the king's books at £72.11.0½ , and in the patronage of the Rev. John Keysall. The church, dedicated to St. Giles, has some specimens of Norman architecture, and contains, among other monuments, one to the memory of Dr. Prideaux, who was dismissed from the bishoprick of Worcester during the parliamentary war. The river Avon flows past this parish, and separates it from Gloucestershire on the west. From the summit of Bredon hill there is a pleasing, view of the vales of Evesham and Cotswold, including the winding course of the Severn. About the commencement of the present century, a fissure opened in the rock in the side of this hill, nearly two hundred yards long, fifteen feet wide, and of unequal depth: the top of the hill is crowned by a Roman encampment, with a double trench. William Hancocke, in 1718, gave land, the rental of which is applied in instructing, clothing, and apprenticing twelve boys. There is an almshouse for eight poor females, Bredon was given by Ethelbald, King of Mercia, previously to the year 716, to his kinsman Eanulph, in order that he might found a monastery here, in of St. Peter, which, previously to the Conquest, was annexed to the bishoprick of Worcester. At Mitton, in this parish, are the ruins of a chapel. [Topographical Dictionary of England 1831 by Samuel Lewis]
© Arthur Lewis and contributors 2008
Comments, additions, corrections etc to Arthur Lewis
Last updated on 1st January 2012