MADRESFIELD

Descriptive Notes:
Madresfield Court, set in a large park, was the home of the Lygon family and the Earls Beauchamp. The novelist Evelyn Waugh was a frequent visitor after becoming friends with Hugh Lygon at Oxford. Many of the characteristics of the house and its occupants were reproduced in his novel Brideshead Revisited. In 1940, during World War II, top secret "provisional arrangements" were drawn up but not implemented, for the evacuation of the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret to Madresfield Court. (TNA)

Status:
Ancient Parish [25]

Location:
O.S. Ref: SO805474
6 miles S.W. of Worcester along the A449

Parish Church:
St. Mary the Virgin

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction:
Archdeaconry & Diocese of Worcester [1]

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

Poor Law Union:
Upton-upon-Severn [3] [25]

Adjoining Parishes:
Newland; Powick; Great Malvern; Leigh [1]

Parish Registers:

		Coverage	Source
Microform at WLHC	Christenings	1742-1928	[5]
	Marriages	1742-1971	[5]
	Burials	1742-1985	[5]
	Banns	1754-85	[5]

Bishops' Transcripts:
Begin 1611 Worcestershire Library and History Centre [22]

International Genealogical Index (IGI):
[19]

		Coverage
Parish Registers	Births / Christenings	1742-1812
	Marriages	1742-1836
Bishops' Transcripts	Births / Christenings	1611-40; 1661-1700

Register Copies:
MADRESFIELD : Christenings 1742-1812, Marriages 1742-1808, 1815-36, banns 1754-86, Burials 1742-96, 1803 [Microfilm.]   Published Salt Lake City : Genealogical Society of Utah, 1984 Society of Genealogists [68]

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]

Search Services (Fee paying) - BMSGH and Independent:
Burial 1742-1851 Worcestershire Burial Index
Marriage see Worcestershire Marriage Index

Manorial Records:
Worcestershire Record Office [50]
Chief rents 1735; Court roll 1679, 1718, 1723-5, 18[66]

Schools Records:
The following school records are original documents. Note reference number and contact staff at Worcestershire Record Office:
Madresfield C E Primary School
Log book. Note the above also contains reports on Religious instruction 1926 - 1939 - 1909 - 1960 - Ref: BA 9664
Punishment book - 1954 - 76 - Ref: BA 9942 - Madresfield - Madresfield C E School - Log book - 1961 - 83 - Ref: BA 10254 -

Madresfield C E School
Log books - 1877 - 1909 - Ref: BA 899
Attendance registers, Infants - 1957 - 58 - Ref: BA 11641/2 (i)
Attendance registers, Infants - 1965 - 66 - Ref: BA 11641/2 (ii)
Attendance registers, Infants - 1978 - 79 - Ref: BA 11641/2 (iii)
Attendance registers, Infants - 1984 - 85 - Ref: BA 11641/2 (iv)
Attendance registers, Juniors - 1947 - 48 - Ref: BA 11641/2 (v)
Attendance registers, Juniors - 1957 - 58 - Ref: BA 11641/2 (vi)
Attendance registers, Juniors - 1965 - 66 - Ref: BA 11641/2 (vii)
Attendance registers, Juniors - 1978 - 79 - Ref: BA 11641/2 (viii)
Attendance registers, Juniors - 1984 - 85 - Ref: BA 11641/2 (ix)
Attendance registers, Juniors - 1991 - 92 - Ref: BA 11641/2 (x)

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:
Madresfield, Worcestershire, tithe rent book, 1800-31 - Published , 1831 Society of Genealogists

Directories:
MADRESFIELD, a parish in the lower division of the hundred of PERSHORE, county of WORCESTER, 6 miles (N. W. by N.) from Upton upon Severn, containing 202 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Worcester, rated in the king's books at £3. 13. 11 ½. Earl Beauchamp was patron in 1793. The church exhibits some portions of ancient architecture. Ann Bull, in 1705, bequeathed £25, for the produce of which six children are taught to read. Madresfield Court, a fine ancient mansion, is the seat of Earl Beauchamp. [Topographical 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 6th July 2011

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