Abberley

Descriptive Notes

St Michael's, Abberley, Worcester a typically squat Norman building, was built in the 12th century. In the 14th century the roof was raised and a shingle spire erected on the tower. Unfortunately, by the 16th century the extra weight had caused the walls to bulge. The damage could not be undone and by the middle of the 19th century St Michael's was collapsing and St Mary's, with its 160 foot high clock tower, was built as a replacement. By the middle of the 20th century all that remained of St. Michael's was a dangerous ivy covered ruin but work was undertaken to restore part of the building with such success that it is now used regularly for some services. (www.abberley.co.uk)

To the south are the Abberley Hills, including Woodbury Hill, with an ancient hill fort on its summit.

Status

Ancient Parish [25]

Location

O.S. Ref: SO752680

On the A443, 12 miles N.W. of Worcester & 11 miles W by N from Droitwich

Parish Church

St Mary's, Abberley was built in 1850 to replace the old Norman Church of St Michael's

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction

Archdeaconry of Salop, Diocese of Hereford until 1919, when transferred to the Diocese of Worcester [1] [5] [25]

Hundred

Lower Doddingtree [11] [25] [28]

Poor Law Union

Martley [3] [25]

Adjoining Parishes

Rock; Areley Kings; Astley; Great Witley; Shelsley Beauchamp; Stockton on Teme; Pensax [1]

Parish Registers at Worcestershire Archives

[Contact details]

		Coverage	Source
Microform	Christenings	1559-1968	[5]
	Marriages	1561-1968	[5]
	Burials	1559-1968	[5]
	Banns	1754-1812	[5]
Originals	Marriages	1561-1990	[12]
	Banns	1823-70, 1886-1961	[12]

Bishops' Transcripts

Held at Herefordshire Record Office

International Genealogical Index (IGI)

[19]

		Coverage
Parish Registers	Births / Christenings	1558-1875
	Marriages	1558-1885
Bishops' Transcripts	Births / Christenings	1662-1856
	Marriages	1662-1853

Register Copies

At BMSGH Reference Library [7]
Baptisms 1558-1857; Marriages 1560-1859; Burials 1559-1886; Banns 1759-1812

Baptisms 1858-1968 Marriages 1837-1968 Burials 1886-1968 Banns 1823-1961, Copy of Register 1558-1804

At Society of Genealogists [68]
Christenings, Marriages & Burials 1662-1856 (Bishops' Transcripts) [Microfilm.] Published Salt Lake City, UT (USA) : Genealogical Society of Utah, 1978 Author Hereford CRO

Christenings, Marriages & Burials (Bishops' Transcripts) 1813-33, 1836-52, Christenings & Burials 1853-56 (gaps & years out of order) [Microfilm] Published Salt Lake City Genealogical Society of Utah 2007

Monumental Inscriptions and Associated Documents

(Habberley, St. Mary) : MIs: in Bloom's Worcestershire Monumental Inscriptions, part 1 [Manuscript.] IN: Bloom's Worcestershire Monumental Inscriptions, part 1 Published , Nd. Author Bloom, J Harvey (trans.) Society of Genealogists [59]

War Memorials

For the names of those included on a war memorial at St. Mary's Church see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/abberley-st-marys-church//

For the names of those included on a war memorial at St. Mary's Church following an Anson N9790 aircraft crash see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/abberley-st-marys-church-anson-n9790-aircraft-crash/

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:

1841-1901 at Worcestershire Archives [14]

Search Services (Fee paying) - BMSGH and Independent

Burial 1661-1840 Worcestershire Burial Index

Marriages see Worcestershire Marriage Index

Manorial Records

Amercement rolls 1633-5, Chief rent rolls 1731, 1781 and 1784; Chief rents 1732 -36; Court books 1660-84, 1694, 1696-1788; Court rolls c.15th cent. [fragment], 1483-4, 1547-52, 1560-1, 1565-8, 1570-3, 1588, 1603-5, 1607-10, 1612-4, 1618-34, 1660-2, 1670, 1694; Customary 1582 [/3]; Rent roll 1707 Worcestershire Archives [50]

Parish Records on microform

At Worcestershire Archives [13]
Apprenticeship registers 1808-22; Apprenticeship indentures 18th & 19th centuries.

Schools Records

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.

Other Sources

Abberley manor, Worcestershire : notes on its history, Augustines Oak, churches & families connected with the parish of the present day (1905). Author: John Lewis Moilliet Society of Genealogists

Directories

An extract from the A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis 1831:

ABBERLEY, a parish in the lower division of the hundred of DODDINGTREE, county of WORCESTER, 4¾ miles (W. S. W.) from Stourport, containing 574 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Salop, and diocese of Hereford, rated in the king's books at £11. 10. 2½ , and in the patronage of R. Bromley, Esq. The church is dedicated to St. Michael. The village of Abberley is situated in a valley to the right of the road leading from Worcester to Ludlow. The summits of the surrounding hills afford delightful prospects, and on the declivities are fine sheep-walks and thriving plantations. Coal of excellent "quality, and some limestone, are found in the neighbourhood. A court leet is held annually. A charity school is supported by the daughters of Col. Bromley. William Walsh, the poet, and a correspondent of Pope and Addison, was born here, in 1663.

Quick Links