LEIGH

Descriptive Notes:

Directories:
LEIGH, a parish in the lower division of the hundred of PERSHORE county of WORCESTER 5 miles (W. by S.) from Worcester, containing, with the whole of the chapelry of Bransford, which is partly in the parish of Powick, 1810 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Worcester, rated in the king's books at £13. 9. 4½ , and in the patronage of Earl Somers. The church is dedicated to St. Edburgh. [Topographical Dictionary of England 1831 by Samuel Lewis]
BRANSFORD, a chapelry partly in the parish of POWICK, but chiefly in that of LEIGH, lower division of the hundred of PERSHORE, county of WORCESTER, 4¾ miles (W. S. W.) from Worcester, containing 264 inhabitants. The chapel is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. [Topographical Dictionary of England 1831 by Samuel Lewis]

Status:
Ancient Parish 
Including a chapel at Bransford, which perhaps was originally in Powick Ancient Parish , later, or originally, in this parish. Bransford was a separate Civil Parish in 1866 from Leigh but not separate ecclesiastically. Hence this parish is ecclesiastically 'Leigh with Bransford'.[25]

Location:
O.S. Ref: SO784534
4½ miles west of Worcester, off the A4103.

Leigh Sinton is 2 miles south. Bransford is a chapelry, 1½ miles S.E. of Leigh [on the A4103]. The Link (or Malvern Link), adjoining Great Malvern, is principally in this parish. Brockamin, close to Leigh church; Upper and Lower Sandlin, 1½ miles S.W.; Hayward's Cross, 1¾ miles S.W. and Smith End and Coles Green, 1 mile S.W. are hamlets; Lane End is 3 miles south. [57]

Other hamlets are:
Braces Leigh, 1 mile east of Leigh Sinton;  Castle Green, ¾ mile N. by E. of Leigh Sinton; Cherkenhill, 1 mile S.S.W. of Leigh; Crowcroft, ¾ mile W.S.W. of Leigh Sinton; Hopton, 1½ miles W. by S. of Leigh and Sherridge, ¾ mile N.W. of Leigh Sinton.
Also Ashfield, Dragon's Cross, Kings Hill and Suffield.  

In the 19th century the parish extended further towards Malvern including the hamlets of Lower Howsell, 1½ miles S.S.E. from Leigh Sinton; Upper Howsell, 1½ miles south of Leigh Sinton; Cowleigh and Interfields,1 mile S. by W. of Leigh Sinton.

Parish Church:
St. Edburga
Chapel at Bransford: St. John Baptist

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction:
Archdeaconry & Diocese of Worcester [1]

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

Poor Law Union:
Martley [3] [25]

Adjoining Parishes:
Broadwas; Cotheridge; Worcester St.John Bedwardine; Bransford; Powick; Newland; Madresfield; Great Malvern; Mathon; Cradley (Herefordshire);Alfrick [1]

Parish Registers:
Leigh parish registers commence in 1538. Bransford in 1767. The two parishes were not separated out for microfilming purposes.[5]

Leigh with Bransford

		Coverage	Source
Microform at WLHC	Christenings	1538-1914	[5]
	Marriages	1538-1970	[5]
	Burials	1538-1872	[5]
Originals at WRO	Marriages	1538-1981	[12]
	Burials	1538-1981	[12]
	Banns	1900-17, 1926-71	[12]

Bransford

		Coverage	Source
Microform at WLHC	Christenings	1767-1944	[5]
	Marriages	1767-1838	[5]
Originals at WRO	Banns	1767-1809	[12]

Bishops' Transcripts:
Begin 1612 Worcestershire Library and History Centre [22]

International Genealogical Index (IGI):
[19]

		Coverage
Parish Registers	Births / Christenings	1538-1817
	Marriages	1538-1882

Register Copies:
At Society of Genealogists [68] :-
Bransford (Chapelry) : Christenings 1813-1944, Marriages 1813-38 [Microfilm.] SoG [68]
Leigh with Bransford : Christenings 1538-1812, Marriages 1538-1807, Burials 1538-1784 [Microfilm.]
Leigh with Bransford : Christenings 1785-1856, Marriages 1807-1906, Burials 1785-1872 [Microfilm.] - Published Salt Lake City, UT (USA) : Genealogical Society of Utah, 1962

Nonconformist:
Methodist: Christenings 1884-1975. Baptisms 1884-1975 are subject to a 50 year access restriction. Worcestershire Library and History Centre [30]
Smithsend Green Methodist: Marriages 1932-64. Marriages 1932-64 are subject to a 50 year access restriction. Worcestershire Library and History Centre [30]
Countess of Huntingdon (Leigh Sinton, Suckley & Cradley): Births 1818-30, Christenings 1818-37 Worcestershire Library and History Centre [30]


Monumental Inscriptions and Associated Documents:
MIs: in Bloom's Worcestershire Monumental Inscriptions, part 1 [Manuscript.] - Author Bloom, J Harvey (trans.) Society of Genealogists [59]

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:
At Worcestershire Library and History Centre [14]
Leigh
1841-1901
Leigh Sinton
1851 61
Bransford
1841-1901

Search Services (Fee paying) - BMSGH and Independent:
Burial : Leigh with Bransford 1660-1851 Worcestershire Burial Index
Marriage see Worcestershire Marriage Index

Manorial Records:
Worcestershire Record Office [50]
Leigh: Copy presentments 19th cent; Court remembrances 1750; Court roll 1381, 1514, 1580, 1585-6, 1593; Arrears of rents 1743-4; Rent rolls 1744-5, 1748-9; Accounts 1744-8
Bransford (Brace's Leigh): Court roll 18[66];
Bransford: Court roll 1721-88 WRO [50]

Parish Records on microform at Worcestershire Library and History Centre [13]
Bransford- Churchwardens accounts 1605-1804
Leigh with Bransford - manuscript copy of Parish Registers 1538-1785 [late 19th cen]
Manuscript copy of Bransford Book of Churchwardens accounts of 1605-18 [late 19th cent.]
Register of Services 1903-59
Leigh Sinton [in Leigh] School Chapel Register of Services 1947-63
Leigh with Bransford Register of Services 1960-74
Leigh Sinton [in Leigh] SchoolRoom Register of Services 1902-33
Churchwardens accounts 1876-1915
Churchwardens accounts & Parochial Church Council Accounts 1915-46, 1925-45
Parochial Church Council, signed & unsigned minutes 1920-40
Vestry Meeting, signed minutes 1895-1946
Leigh Church Bell Ringers Attendance Register 1902-26
Leigh School Managers signed minutes 1903-52
Leigh Curate Fund Account Book 1899-1935
Leigh & Bransford Assistant Clergy Fund signed minutes 1909-27
Visitors Book 1949-50
Papers re new rectory 20th cent
Mr.Isaac Cowle's Charity Account Book 1845-7
Copy of various charities 1829, 1895
Letters, pamphlet, valuation, declaration of trust, tithe & other papers 19th- 20th cent.
Certificates of redemption of tithe rent charge & other papers 20th cent
Letter re sale of trees on glebe land in Leigh 1935-7
Certified copy of the Instrument fixing the table of fees for the parish of Leigh 1936
15 faculties, 1919-72
Deeds re property in Great Malvern in Malvern & Bransford 1703-1856
Deeds & other papers re property in Bransford 1852-1928
Deed re piece of land in Leigh to be used as site for school 1859
Letters re organ & other pieces of furniture & fittings in Leigh church 1970-73
Parish Magazines 1948-70

Schools Records:
The following school records are original documents. Note reference number and contact staff at Worcestershire Record Office:
Bransford Primary School
Log book - 1902 - 80 - Ref: BA 8562

Leigh Hurst Council School
Log book - 1887 - 1902 - Ref: BA 1036

Leigh Sinton School
Photographs of pupils with staff [and incumbent] - late 19th - early 20th cent - Ref: BA 9754/ (ii) - (iv)

Leigh Wesleyan Sunday School
Teachers' register including register of number of scholars attending - 1919 - 46 - Ref: BA 8568

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 31st March 2008

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