Astwood Bank

Quick Links

• Descriptive Notes
• Status
• Location
• Parish Church
• Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction
• Hundred
• Poor Law Union
• Parish Registers at Worcestershire Archives
• Nonconformist
• Monumental Inscriptions and Associated Documents
• War Memorials
• Census Records
• Schools Records

Descriptive Notes

At the beginning of the 19th century Astwood Bank, Crabbs Cross and Hunt End were small villages on the outskirts of Redditch and part of the large ecclesiastical parish of Feckenham.
By 1881 the population had grown to about 2500 persons and a chapel of ease was built at Astwood Bank. The first part of the building was completed and consecrated on the 11th August 1884, with the building being extended to its present size and approximate layout by 1923.

Status

The church was a chapel of ease to Feckenham. Astwood became a separate parish in 1981 [5]

Location

O.S. Ref: SP043629
On the Warwickshire border of the county, 3½ miles south of Redditch

Parish Church

St. Matthias & St. George, Church Rd., Astwood Bank, Redditch

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction

Archdeaconry & Diocese of Worcester [11]

Hundred

Upper Halfshire [11]

Poor Law Union

Alcester [29]

Parish Registers at Worcestershire Archives

[Contact details]

Nonconformist

Astwood Bank Baptist Church:
Christenings1813-1950; Burials1800-77 (gaps) Worcestershire Archives [30]
Originals: Marriages1946-79 Worcestershire Archives [12]

The following all at Worcestershire Archives [30]
Alcester & Astwood Baptist Church: Births 1788-1837 Deaths 1801-06 Burials1800-37
Note: Alcester is in Warwickshire & Astwood was part of Feckenham. Alcester was the mother church. No pre-1837 register of marriages was kept. Between 1801 & 1813 the minister was minister for both Alcester & Astwood. From 1813 he was minister of Astwood only.
A volume containing a list of persons buried, plan of burial ground & list of graves: 1845-87
Register of members: 1813-50
Astwood was a daughter church of Alcester Baptist Church. It had ceased to be used as a place of worship by 1990.

Monumental Inscriptions and Associated Documents

At BMSGH Shop
St.Matthias & St.George BMSGH Shop

At BMSGH Reference Library [7]
St Matthias and St George

At Society of Genealogists [59]
ASTWOOD BANK (St. Matthias & St. George) : Monumental Inscriptions: Worcestershire monumental inscriptions, vol. 10 IN: Worcestershire monumental inscriptions, vol. 10 Published : Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry, 1991 Author Farmer, G R (trans.) Source D: Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry

At Worcestershire Archives [51]
Persons buried at Baptist church, with plan of burial ground & list of graves (1845-57)

War Memorials

For the names of those included on Astwood Bank War Memorial see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/astwood-bank-war-memorial/

For the names of those included on Astwood Bank Baptist Church WWII Memorial, now in Cookhill Baptist Church, see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/astwood-bank-baptist-church-now-in-cookhill-baptist-church/

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 Archives, 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:

1851 at Worcestershire Archives [14]

Schools Records

The following school records are original documents. Note reference number and contact staff at Worcestershire Archives:
Astwood Bank British School
Log book - 1870 - 87 - Ref: BA 191

Astwood Bank C P School
[formerly Infants', Girls' and Boys' Schools]
Log books - 1878 - 1944 - Ref: BA 5244

Astwood Bank Council School
Log book, Boys' Dept. - 1926-78 - Ref: BA 11134

The records of schools and other educational establishments in this parish are detailed in a handlist available at Worcestershire Archives. The list refers to original documents so you will need to note the reference number and contact staff.