ROCK

Descriptive Notes:
Usual civil spelling is 'Rock'; usual ecclesiastic spelling is 'Rock with Heightington' [25]

Directories:
ROCK, a parish in the lower division of the hundred of DODDINGTREE, county of WORCESTER, 4¾ miles (S.W. by W.) from Bewdley, containing, with the hamlets of Alton, Hightington, Lindons, and Snead, 1266 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Salop, and diocese of Hereford, rated in the king's books at £17. 11. 8. Mr. Woodhull and others were patrons in 1812. The church, dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, is very ancient. There is a charity school, the salary of the master being paid out of the crown rent. [Topographical Dictionary of England 1831 by Samuel Lewis]

HEIGHTINGTON a chapelry in the parish of Rock, lower division of the hundred of DODDINGTREE, county of WORCESTER, 4 miles (S.W.) from Bewdley. The population is returned with the parish. The chapel is dedicated to St. Giles. [Topographical Dictionary of England 1831 by Samuel Lewis]

Status:
Ancient Parish [25]
Heightington was a chapelry of Rock [5]

Location:
O.S. Ref:
Rock SO732712; Heightington SO767712
Rock 5 miles S.W. of Bewdley, 2 miles east of Clows Top. Heightington is 2 miles east of Rock

Alton is a hamlet 2 miles north. Heightington is a chapelry in the parish of Rock, 3 miles S.W. from Bewdley and 3 miles west from Stourport. Lower Norchard is 1½ miles south; Gorst Hill is 2 miles N.W. [57]
Bliss Gate 1 mile N.W.  [11]

Parish Church:
St. Peter & St. Paul
St.Giles is a chapel of ease at Heightington

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction:
Archdeaconry of Salop & Diocese of Hereford until 1876, Archdeaconry of Ludlow & Diocese of Hereford (1876-1919), Archdeaconry & Diocese of Worcester (1919-1921), Archdeaconry of Dudley & Diocese of Worcester (1921-1973), Archdeaconry & Diocese of Worcester (1974 - *) [25]

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

Poor Law Union:
Cleobury Mortimer [3] [25]

Adjoining Parishes:
Kinlet (Shropshire); Bewdley; Ribbesford; Areley Kings; Abberley; Pensax; Lindridge; Mamble; Bayton; Cleobury Mortimer (Shropshire) [1]

Rock Parish Registers:

		Coverage	Source
Microform at WLHC	Christenings	1548-1964	[5]
	Marriages	1548-1963	[5]
	Burials	1548-1964	[5]
	Banns	1754-1812	[5]
Transcripts at WLHC	General	1547-1812, 1738-1812	[27]
Originals at WRO	Marriages	1548-1994	[12]
	Banns	1870-1941	[12]

Heightington Parish Registers:

		Coverage	Source
Microform at WLHC	Marriages	1907-71	[5]
Originals at WRO	Marriages	1907-93	[12]
	Banns	1941-72	[12]

Rock with Heightington Parish Registers:

		Coverage	Source
Transcripts at WLHC	General	1547-1600, 1601-41	[27]

Rock Mission Church- Originals only held at Worcestershire Record Office.[5]

Bishops' Transcripts: Herefordshire Record Office

International Genealogical Index (IGI):
[19]

		Coverage
Parish Registers	Births / Christenings	1548-1641; 1653-1654; 1678-1875
	Marriages	1548-1654; 1678-1895
Bishops' Transcripts	Births / Christenings	1661-1678
	Marriages	1661-1678

Register Copies:
Hereford Diocese marriage licence registers 1663-96, 1709-1843 [with contemporary indexes] [Microfilm.] - Published Salt Lake City Genealogical Society of Utah Society of Genealogists [68]

Monumental Inscriptions and Associated Documents:
Rock, St.Peter BMSGH microfiche [53]
Heightington, St.Giles BMSGH microfiche [53]
Rock, St.Peter Worcestershire Library and History Centre
Heightington, St.Giles Worcestershire Library and History Centre [51]

At Society of Genealogists [59]
Rock (St. Peter) : Worcestershire monumental inscriptions vol. 15 [Typescript.] - Published Birmingham : Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry, 1994 - Author Bewdley Historical Research Group (trans.)

Heightington (St. Giles) : Worcestershire monumental inscriptions vol. 15 [Typescript.] - Published Birmingham : Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry, 1994 - Author: Bewdley Historical Research

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 51 1901 at Worcestershire Library and History Centre [14]
1851 - 91 Shropshire Archives
Shropshire 1891 census returns: Cleobury Mortimer registration district RG 12/2091-2092 [Microfilm.] - Published London Public Record Office 2003 Society of Genealogists

Search Services (Fee paying) - BMSGH and Independent:
Burial 1660-1840 Worcestershire Burial Index
Marriage see Worcestershire Marriage Index

Manorial Records:
Worcestershire Record Office [50]
Rock: Court rolls 1750 - early 19th cent.
Stildon: Court roll 1373 /4-1377
Stildon and Hollin: Court roll 1345-50
Worsley: Court rolls 1750, 1687, 1635/6, 1676, 1623

Parish Records on microform at Worcestershire Library and History Centre [13]
Churchwardens accounts 1766-1824
Overseers of the poor accounts 1804-14
List of churchwardens 1730-95
Copy of deed 1768
Legal opinions etc 1769
Overseers of poor accounts 1764-74
Vestry Meeting Minutes 1767-99; 1800-25; 1814-24; 1839-46; 1825-55 (pt)
Vestry Meeting signed Minutes 1825-29
Vestry Meeting Minutes, inc. disbursement of clothing to the poor and churchwardens accounts (pt) 1825-55
Vestry Meeting Minutes with Churchwardens accounts 1855-1905
List of overseers 1730-1843
Overseers of Poor Accs 1813-45
Church rate book 1859
Account book of school charities, offerories & bazaar 1862-9
Unnamed committee re: restoration of the tower of Rock parish church signed minutes with list of some parishoners 1929-32
Rock with Heightington
Heightington - Register of services 1918-60. Vestry meetings & parochial church council signed minutes 1924-33
Church accounts 1924-64
C8 faculties, letter, subscription lists & other papers 1900-64

Schools Records:
The following school records are original documents. Note reference number and contact staff at Worcestershire Record Office:
Heightington C P School
Log books - 1871 - 1957 - Ref: BA 2199

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

---

© Arthur Lewis and contributors 2008
Comments, additions, corrections etc to Arthur Lewis
Last updated on 2nd April 2008

---