Visitors’ Book

My grandmother was Maud Pope she used to play at Birtsmorton court when she was little. I believe her cousins lived there. But I don't know much of her past, she married a Draycott and lived in Stratford upon Avon and had 5 children. I'm guessing she was related to the Wallington Popes as she used Sealy Wallington as one of her children's middle names. I wonder if anyone recognizes her name, I believe her middle name was Mary and she was born sometime in the 1870's. Thank you.

There is also a plaque inside the church, given by his wife and sisters.

In response to your comment that there is no known memorial in this country to Captain Alfred Hayman, there is a memorial tablet in Great Elm Church, near Frome in Somerset.

I am the great great grandaughter of a Childswickham Blacksmith - Joseph Belcher - married to Jane Bennett at Wickhamford in Dec 1846. This website has been the best and most useful I've accessed during my ongoing research into the Belchers of Childswickham, Wickhamford & Church Honeybourne. Thank you to everyone involved. I was born in Lancashire, I have a good friend who was born in Cleeve Prior (Sheaf family) - we think our ancestors would probably have crossed paths around the Badsey area . ....fascinating.

I have recently obtained the travel trunk used by Charles and his sister Mag (my great great Aunt and Uncle) on their trips to America. Can any information be found as to when they went and what ships they went on. As I was hoping to attach lists to the inside. Do hope some information can be found. Thank you

Sue Daniels

Hi Maureen,
After a long absence I have started back on our family tree. From your previous site where I obtained a lot of my info, I have compared it with your new site. I have always been puzzled as why there is no mother shown, only Joseph of his first children from 1686 to 1695 and then Eleanor as mother from 1699. I note that in Parish Records 1538-1753 there was a marriage in Wickhamford of a Joseph Night (Knight) marriage to Jane Darke, 15 Nov 1685, Entry Number 98, just before Thomas and William were born 16 Dec 1686, Baptisms Badsey 1538-1784, Entry Number 1247-48. There is a Joan (Jane) Knight Burial in Badsey Parish Records 1538-1784, Entry Number 965, died 14 Nov 1697. Then in Wickhamford Marriages, Entry Number 114, of Joseph and Eleanor Richardson in 14 Aug 1698. The birth of Henry occurred 16 Apr 1699, Entry Number 1371.
I now believe Joseph had 2 wives and I am related to Jane Darke?
An anomaly in the 1841 Badsey Census, Schedule 16, occupants are shown as Night. In 1851, Schedule 49, shows the family as Knight?

This year I came back to Badsey again, as a descendent of the Cyril Sladden, to hear the letters from 1917 to the end of the war. As in previous years, I learned a great deal about members of my family, and about the events that they were a part of.

It seems miraculous to me that all of Cyril's generation of Sladdens survived the war - participating in military campaigns in the Western front and Mesopotamia, witnessing the 1918 flu epidemic decimate a military camp, and (possibly?) being at the receiving end of aerial bombardment as civilians in England. It was a bit sad that we did not hear more about the lives of those who stayed at home. But perhaps that is also a reminder of how lucky we are to have so many letters that did survive.

As well as being inspired by the achievements of the Sladdens, I was also struck by their sense of humour and light-heartedness. Cyril and Mela's affection for each other was really quite touching, and I am so glad that they were finally reunited!

I have just picked up a copy of Heads and Tales and found the references to my father Ronald West who was Head from 1945-6. I am fairly sure that I have material which could give you more information about this brief period of his tenure - if anyone is interested. Perhaps Maureen Spinks? I do remember him and my mother talking of the happy time they had there, albeit brief, and of the kindness of those who left asparagus on the doorstep!

This is a fantastic project and you have put so much work into it. I found it fascinating to read the family's thoughts on the world events as they unfolded. They give such an interesting social history of the period.
I wonder how many other families have such a record?
I wish the BBC or another media channel knew about this story as it deserves to be recorded and broadcast to a wider audience. The story should be preserved for posterity and for future generations. Congratulations!

i have just found my ancestor william crawford baptised in badsey in 1577. the crawfords were in bromsgrove industry in the 18th and 19th centuries and i've been trying to find where they originated from.

I am researching the story of acting Captain Keith Bidlake of the 9th Worcesters and found a letter in the Leeds University Library file on him from Cyril to the Bidlake parents recounting the circumstances of Keith's death in action, with Cyril by his side, on 25th February 1917. The letter reassures the parents that he died instantly but is quite graphic in its details. It has been fascinating to read other letters from Cyril about the Mesopotamian campaign. I just wanted to say what a wonderful resource this website is, a model of its type. I agree with the comment that it ought to win an award!

This is my grandad I apreciate we are knights if you trace us backwards I am proud of William MALIN and his antics in world war 1 and I am happy to connect with anyone who is connected to me or my brother

This is one of the best local history websites I have seen. It is very interesting, relevant, easy to find way around. a huge amount of work has gone into this. Deserves an award..
Well done to all involved.

I am a 3rd generation descendent of the Badsey Sladdens, and just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who worked so hard to transcribe the letters, and arrange for some of the 1916 letters to be read at the Badsey parish church last night. I was quite close to my Sladden grandfather, Duncan, who would have been 91 this year. Through him I knew a little bit about his father Cyril, and his wider family. But I feel like I know a tremendous amount more through hearing their letters.

I was quite moved by the letters surrounding the death of Eugenie Sladden - particularly sad that it happened at a time when 3 of her sons were not able to come home.

I was also interested in the medical research carried out by Arthur Sladden and others during the First World War. For example in his letter from 24th June 1916, he talks about how medical research changed during the war - becoming more co-ordinated, and that a great many discoveries were made at that time. This is something that interests me personally as a science PhD student. What were the research methods he was referring to in his letter? And were the methods extended and perpetuated as he hoped they would be?

I am researching my MALIN family tree. I have now found a connection with Badsey. Looking forward to findingout more.

I am wondering if anyone knows the history of the Spiers side of this partnership please? There are numerous ways of spelling Spiers and this seems unusual for england. My middle name is Spiers and all my lot are from Scotland. I have traced a batch to Nottingham and there is another Spiers that moved to the midlands. Many thanks, Avril

I came for one of my frequent Badsey 'fixes' yesterday. While walking around the church and looking at my ancestors' graves, I noticed that a third memorial stone had been added to the memorials for Walter and Frances Stewart.

To put you in the picture, I'm the great grandson of William Henry Stewart and Charlotte Stewart who are both buried at the church, where the headstone has been laid flat as it is broken.

Nearby, Walter Stewart (one of my dad's uncles) and his wife, Frances are interred.

The third stone, which has only been laid in recent weeks is in memory of James William Stewart 1917-1993 so he has clearly been deceased for 22 years.

I would like who he was. Was he a son of theirs and how come the stone has only been laid recently? Someone has clearly had it done so this suggests that there is a relative living somewhere. Does this mean that I have a very distant cousin that I didn't know existed?

To provide some clarity, my dad was Kenneth William Payne, who was one of four children of John Payne (of Birmingham) and Emily Payne (nee Stewart) of Aldington. Emily was therefore my grandmother and pre-deceased me and she was one of seven children of William and Charlotte Stewart of Aldington.

I'd also love to know how she met John Payne as he was from Birmingham. She moved away when she married him. They had four children one of whom was my dad.

Sadly everyone has died now and I don't have anyone to ask so any help with plugging the gap in my knowledge would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance to anyone who can help.

Best wishes.

Clive Payne

Redditch