Great Witley
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- Descriptive Notes
- Status
- Location
- Parish Church
- Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction
- Hundred
- Poor Law Union
- Adjoining Parishes
- Parish Registers at Worcestershire Archives
- Bishops' Transcripts
- International Genealogical Index (IGI)
- Register Copies
- Monumental Inscriptions and Associated Documents
- War Memorials
- Census Records
- Search Services (Fee paying) - BMSGH and Independent
- Manorial Records
- Parish Records on microform
- Schools Records
- Other Sources
- Directories
Descriptive Notes
Referring to St. Michael's Church, John Betjeman called this "the most sumptuous classic interior in England." It stands beside the enormous ruins of Witley Court, the mansion of the first Earl of Dudley, making an unforgettable group.
The church was consecrated in 1735. In form it is a plain rectangle with two shallow projections at the east end. Inside is brilliant baroque plasterwork in white and gold. This is the most Italian church interior in England. The ceiling paintings and the painted glass of the windows came from an estate near London and were fitted into St Michael's church with 'stucco' decoration actually made of papier-mâché. There is an enormous monument to the first Lord Foley who planned the building but died in 1732. [73]
Location
O.S. Ref: SO769649
10 miles N.W. of Worcester along the A443
Hillhampton was formerly a part of Martley parish, now a part of Great Witley parish. It is 1 mile east of Great Witley & 6 miles S.W. from Stourport.
Redmarley is a hamlet ½ mile north. Little Witley is a chapelry, 2 miles S.E. of Great Witley, to which ecclesiastical parish it is now annexed. [11]
Parish Registers at Worcestershire Archives
| Coverage | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Microform | Christenings | 1538-1968 | [5] |
| Marriages | 1538-1975 | [5] | |
| Burials | 1538-1968 | [5] | |
| Banns | 1754-1818, 1824-1929 | [5] | |
| Transcripts | Christenings | 1538-1874 | [27] |
| Marriages | 1538-1835 | [27] | |
| Burials | 1538-1849 | [27] | |
| Banns | 1754-1812 | [27] |
International Genealogical Index (IGI)
| Coverage | ||
|---|---|---|
| Parish Registers | Births / Christenings | 1757-1875 |
| Marriages | 1739-1875 |
Register Copies
At BMSGH Shop
Christenings 1538-1874 Marriages1538-1835 Burials 1538-1849 Banns 1754-1812 + Little Witley
At BMSGH Reference Library [7]
Great Witley Baptisms 1874-1962 Marriages 1837-1965 Burials 1908-1968 Banns 1824-1929, Poor Relief Book 1712-1832, Overseers of Poor account 1812-1885
Great Witley Baptisms Marriages and Burials 1538-1688 Baptisms and Burials 1688-1812 Baptisms 1813-1874, Marriages 1693-1835, Burials 1813-1908, Banns 1754-1818
Great Witley St Michael and All Angels Baptisms. 1538-1874 Marriages. 1538-1835 Burials. 1538-1849 Banns 1754-1812
At Dudley Archives & Local History Service [62]
Transcript: 1538-1874
At Society of Genealogists [68] :-
WITLEY, GREAT : Christenings 1538/9-1874, Marriages 1538-1835, banns 1754-1818, Burials 1538/9-1908 [Microfilm.] Published Salt Lake City : Genealogical Society of Utah, 1969
WITLEY, GREAT : Christenings, Marriages & Burials 1832 (Bishops' Transcripts) [Microfilm.] Published Salt Lake City : Genealogical Society of Utah, 1998
WITLEY, GREAT (St. Michael & All Angels) : Christenings 1538-1874, Marriages 1538-1835, banns 1755-92, 1801-14, Burials 1538-1849 Published Birmingham : Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry, 1985 Author Wright, Betty (transcription.) Source D: BMSGH
Monumental Inscriptions and Associated Documents
At BMSGH Shop
Chapel Burial Ground
St.Michael & All Angels
At BMSGH Reference Library [7]
Chapel Burial Ground
St.Michael & All Angels
At Worcestershire Archives [51]
Chapel Burial Ground
St.Michael & All Angels
At Society of Genealogists [59]
WITLEY, GREAT : Monumental Inscriptions in the chapel burial ground: Worcestershire monumental inscriptions, vol. 11 [Typescript.] IN: Worcestershire monumental inscriptions, vol. 11 Published Birmingham : Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry, 1992 Author Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry (transcription.) Source D: BMSGH
WITLEY, GREAT : Monumental Inscriptions in the churchyard: Worcestershire monumental inscriptions, vol. 9 [Typescript.] IN: Worcestershire monumental inscriptions, vol. 9 Published , 1990 Author Faraday, Michael Anthony (transcription.)
WITLEY, GREAT (St. Michael & All Angels) : Monumental Inscriptions: Worcestershire monumental inscriptions, vol. 14 [Typescript.] IN: Worcestershire monumental inscriptions, vol. 14 Published Birmingham : Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry, 1994 Author Farmer, G R (transcription.) Source D: Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry
War Memorials
For the names of those included on Great Witley War Memorial see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/great-witley-war-memorial/
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 1660-1840 Worcestershire Burial Index
Marriage see Worcestershire Marriage Index
Parish Records on microform
At Worcestershire Archives [13]
Poor relief account account book 1712-1832
Overseers of the poor & general accounts of the hamlet of Hillhampton 1826-82
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
At Society of Genealogists :-
Witley lives [Typescript.] Published , 1971 Author Palmer, W Charles Source D: I Carter.
Witley parish church : a short history & guide to the parish church of St. Michael's & All Angels, Great Witley IN: Parish church Witley Worcestershire (cover) Published 1960 Author Goodwin, Bernard G Edition 2nd edn Source D: L Weinstein.
Witley, Worcestershire : a record of a parish Published 1985 Author Walker, R Source D: L Weinstein.
Witley Court : Witley Court & church : life & luxury in a great country house Published Peter Huxtable Designs Limited 1986 Author Pardoe, Bill Source D: L Weinstein.
Directories
An extract from the Topographical Dictionary of England 1831 by Samuel Lewis:
WITLEY (GREAT), a parish in the lower division of the hundred of DODDINGTREE, county of WORCESTER, 5 miles (S. W. by S.) from Stourport, containing with the hamlet of Redmarley, 354 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Worcester, rated in the king's books at £7. 6. 3., and in the patronage of Lord Foley. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is an elegant structure, erected about 1760, by the first Lord Foley and his widow, to whom it contains a superb monument: the windows, painted by Price, in 1719, and the ceiling by Verrio, were brought from the chapel at Canons, when that princely mansion of the late Duke of Chandos was pulled down, and the materials sold.
Last Updated: 18/10/2016
