My database for Bengeworth has a George Kinchin buried in Bengeworth cemetery 1/7/1868 aged 45. Section A, Plot 87. A Mary, a widow, was buried in Bengeworth cemetery on 28/01/1908, aged 81. She was interred in Section G, Plot 18. These are possibly your great-great grandparents?
My name is Pam Cotton. I live in Gippsland Victoria, Australia. I have just browsed through your delightful website, and saw the pictures belonging to my cousin Ian Tandy.
I am looking at a picture of our little red Morgan three wheeler outside 10 Glebe Street, Swadlincote where I was brought up. In the car are my younger sister Rosie and my eldest sister Joyce's son John. We spent so many happy times with Uncle Fred, Auntie Kath, Ian and Kay. I'm 75 now, but can clearly remember Uncle Fred standing on the bridge over the Badsey Brook ... and threatening to drop me in. Also although there was only a privy, Uncle Fred used to tie a piece of string so that we could pretend to flush the toilet. Auntie Kath was the best cook ever, and I loved Ian's aviary!
Thanks for the trip down memory lane,
Pam Cotton, Australia
My great grandfather, Wilson EMMS was born in Aldington and baptised at Badsey in 1852. Wilson was unusual as a first name then, but I have noticed other births around this time with the same given name. Wilson appears in the area as a surname, and I wondered whether the name was taken from a local benefactor. Does anyone know the answer?
Regards, Julie Sutton (nee Emms) Kingston upon Thames, Surrey
The name could be related to the WILSON family who were Lords of the Manor of Badsey from 1657 to 1866. Most of the men holding that title were called Edward Wilson. I have no evidence that the Wilsons were benefactors to the EMMS family but it is a possibility. If you read through the letters below about the Malins family, they also used Wilson as a first name.
The last Edward Wilson served as a churchwarden at Badsey from Easter 1849 to Easter 1851, but seems to have left the village soon after that as he is living in Birmingham on the 1851 census and appears to be absent from the village until about 1880. So it is unlikely he was around at the time of the 1852 baptism, but may have helped the Emms family a few years earlier perhaps.
While chasing my Brittain ancestors I came across John Brittain who married Martha Adams in Offenham in 1766. They seem to have then lived in Badsey. They had 8 easy to find children which your wonderful website with Parish Records made very easy to confirm. I noticed that four were buried in 1785, in fact they were all buried between 13 September and 11 November.
I looked quickly at burials 1781 to 1789, there were an average of 11.7 burials per year and yet in 1785 it rose to 33 so I plotted the numbers for 1750 to 1805. This seems to have been a unique event so I assume the village archives may reveal what was the cause of this particular epidemic. Being a nosy retired GP I thought I would ask rather than speculate.
The answer probably lies in an article "Badsey suffers from a volcanic eruption" by Maureen Spinks in the Badsey Society Newsletter No 19, January 2007. A shortened and edited version is reproduced here:
"The eruption of Laki (in Iceland) began on 8th June 1783 and lasted for eight months. Just over two weeks later, a deadly fog entered Britain. The naturalist, Gilbert White of Selborne, described it as "the peculiar haze or smokey fog that prevailed … unlike anything known within the memory of man." Local newspapers up and down the country reported the freak weather conditions. A very hot summer of 1783 was followed by record-breaking cold winters of 1783-4 and 1784-5, the severest Britain had seen for 250 years. In addition, millions of tons of toxic fumes were released, suffocating many in the process.
The Icelandic eruption has been forgotten in all but its mother country, but the consequences were extreme. It is estimated that 23,000 people died in Britain as a result of the extreme weather conditions and the toxic haze which enveloped the land. This cloud was resident for two to three years after the eruption and led to, or accentuated, the extremes of heat and cold. The "Timewatch" scientists reported that parish records up and down the country tell the same story of increased mortality. I was intrigued to see whether this was paralleled in Badsey. Amazingly, this was the case.
In the decade preceding 1783, the number of burials in Badsey varied between one and four each year (remember, the population then was only about 300). But in 1783 there were 12 burials, in 1784 there were 18 and in 1785 there were 32. The number of burials then declined in the following years. ... We consider ourselves immune to natural disasters. But history warns us we that should not be so complacent."
Peter Stewart has kindly let us have the burial figures for the nearby villages of Bretforton and Offenham, and for the town of Evesham. He says that nothing relevant is mentioned in these registers.
Bretforton
Offenham
Evesham
Badsey
1781
6
4
35
10
1782
13
6
33
6
1783
9
2
33
12
1784
12
7
34
18
1785
13
9
69
32
1786
9
6
48
6
1787
13
3
48
6
Robin has added this comment: "Maureen's explanation fits very well. Infections were common and many diseases we regard as trivial now were lethal then. A population stressed by cold and starvation, for two years, becomes very susceptible to relatively trivial disease. Catch a cold, goes to chest, die of pneumonia. But in those days mumps, measles, scarlet fever, TB and many other infections were common. If you were rich you would do better but my family the 'Brittains' were probably at the very bottom of the socio-economic ladder so 4 out of 8 of their children died. Looking at the pattern of deaths I would imagine that an infection spread round killing people in sequence. There are no burials in April, May, and June 1785 and a new sequence starts in July with a peak of 10 in September. I wondered if somebody had travelled in and started an outbreak of something like smallpox."
I note the comments in your article on Vine Cottage that its early occupancy is difficult to establish. You may wish to add that the services record for Frederick Barnard (b 1897, son of James and Mary Ann) gives his address on enlistment on 9 July 1916 as Vine Cottage, Badsey. As he was only 19 at the time, it may be safe to assume that James and Mary Ann lived there too at that date.
Going back to the 1901 census, this Barnard family is just shown in 'Badsey Village' but their entry lies between Pool House and Vine Lodge (sic). Vine Lodge is occupied by two separate market gardeners' families, Charles Knight and his mother and a lodger and Edward Clevely and his wife and two infant children.
Could Vine Lodge have been renamed later as Vine Cottage and Rose Cottage, I wonder? This would be consistent with the idea that once it may have been a single dwelling moved from Evesham. If this is the case, the renaming must have taken place between 1901 and 1916.
Don Barnard, (born Badsey, son of Ted) Leamington Spa
I was very interested in reading your page about the Cull family. Do you know if any of the Cull sons moved to South Africa in the late 1800s? There is a strong family resemblance and we also have the names of Edward and Charles featuring in our family. I have not done any research but believe my grand father was a sweet maker who moved from England to the East London area of South Africa.
I picked up the book last night after coming home from work, and I can honestly say I couldn't put it down! It was so interesting to read about John Sheppard, Elizabeth Seward (and all the other Sewards), The Reverend Thomas Hunt, and The National Society. It especially gripped me because I am familiar with almost all of the referenced locations without previously having any idea about the history. I find it so amazing how quickly things moved on when I read about the Forster's Act only becoming law in 1870, and to think I was at Badsey school in 1982, only 112 years later. Amazing to think it is only in very recent history that the mass population has been educated.
Anyway, I wanted to drop you a line to say it has been an undeniable pleasure reading your book, and so wonderful that you put so much effort into researching all the history, to make it easy for people like myself to delve into it my own local history so easily. I had no idea why Seward Road or Seward house was named so, and I had no idea about the roots of the school that I attended as a child. I'm looking forward to continuing my education this evening after work! It really is in a very readable format, and it helps to explain the current situation so well. It explains a lot of things that I almost feel ashamed for not knowing before.
My grandmother (Doreen Moore, nee Ballard) had an ancestral line tracing back to the brother of the last Abbott of Evesham. We have a copy of this family tree back to around 1500. Amazingly, like you mention in your book, it seems the whole family stayed in the same area for hundreds of years (back in 1500 they were still in Evesham, although I don't know at what point the family had settlers in Badsey). I will hunt down the family tree again, and as I read the book, I can see which members of my family were around at the time!
So many thanks again, and good luck with any future publications!
We visited many of your gardens this afternoon and we just want to thank you all so much for such an enjoyable afternoon. We were made very welcome and the tea and cakes were lovely. You have a lovely village and some beautiful gardens.
See you next year - so we can visit the gardens we missed today.
Badsey held its first open gardens weekend on 14 & 15 June 2008. More than 20 gardens were open. Both days had fine weather, and despite several competing local events, attendances were good. The event was organised by Liz Cudd in aid of St James Church.
I have just been reading your web site and found it very interesting .You have an Albert Haines on it who I think may be a relative of mine .The Albert I am looking for was born in Gloucestershire in about 1891. He became I am told a market gardener and had a son Charles and two daughters .
I know they lived for a time at Penarth near Cardiff in Wales but may have moved .What may be just a coincidence is that on the page of 1933 children's letters there is one from a Charles Haines and his address is 'Penarth' Blackminster, Evesham; and he mentions South Wales. I maybe completely off track here but I wonder if there is anyone who I could get in touch with that may remember the family?
Sue, It is a strange coincidence that I have been writing up notes this week for Albert George Haines and his wife Florence Elizabeth for an updated book on the Monumental Inscriptions of Badsey. George & his wife are buried in the churchyard in Section C, No.35.
According to the census returns Albert was born in 1892 in Aldington, the son of William & Harriett. William died in 1898, aged 39, and buried in an unmarked grave in Badsey churchyard. He married Harriett Hopkins in 1898 [Evesham District]. Harriett is in the 1901 census for Aldington with three of her children. Norris, Florence & Edith. Albert is staying with relatives at Salford Priors during the 1901 census. They were Frederick Aldington & Mary Ann (nee Hopkins) who were married in 1874 [Alcester District]. Albert married Florence Elizabeth Williams in 1918 [Newent District]. As you can see from her obituary in the Parish Magazine she was nicknamed “Welshie”. Their son Charles William, the writer of the school letter, was born in 1920 [Cardiff District]. There are other children, both male and female registered in Cardiff where the mother’s maiden name is Williams. Some of these may be the other children of Albert & Florence. Albert’s brother Norris married Florence Harris in Badsey church in 1910. I trust these are the relatives you are seeking.
In September 2012 we were contacted by Claire Sparks (nee Haines) who wrote:
I am trying to do a family tree and stumbled onto your site (which is fabulous by the way and provided me with quite a lot to work from). I found Sue's query from 2008 but have been unable to contact her as her email address no longer works. If these details are all correct I am the grand-daughter of the late Charles W Haines so I would really like to get in touch with the former writer. He married Miss Iris Annie Smith in 1941 St Andrews Church Hampton and they only had one son (the late Derek Charles Haines) – my dad. We moved to Cape Town, South Africa just after I was born. Any additional information and site references would be greatly appreciated.
Albert George Haines (1890-1957) was born at Hartpury, Gloucestershire, the second of three children of William and Annie Haines. He does not appear to be related to the other Haines families living in Badsey. Albert was still at home in Hartpury in 1911, working as a general labourer. Albert became a market gardener and started gardening in a large nursery in South Wales. He married Florence Elizabeth Williams in the Newent district in 1918. They had one son and two daughters, all born in the Cardiff district of South Wales: Charles William (1919-2005), Kathleen Maud (1921) and Muriel Florence (1922). They moved from Penarth to Blackminster in September 1932 and called their new home Penarth. The three children attended Badsey Council School. In Worcestershire, Albert had 7½ acres of land (according to the letter written in 1933 by his son). Albert died in 1957 and Florence in 1965. Florence was living at 42 Synehurst at the time of her death. Florence was known as Mrs “Welshie” Haines, to distinguish her from the other Haines family living in Badsey.
Charles William Haines (1919-2005) wrote one of the market gardening letters in April 1933 which was read on a BBC radio programme. Charles was a postman and lived in Hampton for a long time. He married Iris Annie Smith in 1941 at St Andrew’s Church, Hampton. They had one son, Derek Charles (1942). With another chap called Charlie Mills, Charles did a bit of entertaining on a Saturday night, “The Two Charlies”. Charles died in the Evesham district in June 2005.
You will note that Albert’s parentage differs from Peter’s suggestion of 2008. Since 2008, the 1911 census has come to light, which I believe places your Albert as living in Hartpury (which is in the Newent district of Gloucestershire where he subsequently married in 1918). This ties in with Sue Howell saying that her ancestor was born in Gloucestershire. The confusion was caused, I believe, because there was a William Albert Haines born at Aldington in the parish of Badsey in 1892. It would seem that both you and Sue share a common ancestor in your great-grandfather, Albert Haines, but unfortunately we have no details of her contact address.
I saw your appeal for the names of head boys at Badsey School. I went through school a year ahead and was privileged to do the job for two years. So you can add these missing names:
1934-35 Kenneth Knight (Ken)
1936-37 and 1937-38 Richard Knight (Dick)
Besides the tasks mentioned on your webpage, there were other jobs I recall.
Monday morning: visiting each teacher for them to request various items e.g. chalk, exercise books, pencils etc. which were collected from the stock cupboard and delivered to the teacher.
Selling national saving stamps and then visiting the post office to buy new "stock".
Locking the school every evening and taking the keys to the head's house.
Collecting all the ink wells from the desks and filling them with home made ink (from a packet)
On Wednesdays the school opened in the evening for the changing of public library books when it was my job to prepare the room.
Happy days! Incidentally, a letter I wrote describing the life of a market gardener is also on your website.
When researching for Hartwell family history links I knew originated in Badsey, Worcestershire, I decided to try my luck and "google" the place name. Quite by chance I came across this invaluable resource. The website contains what look to be all the school registers, church records, parish magazines, censuses and electoral registers related to the village, all lovingly transcribed onto one incredibly useful site and carefully cross referenced to a large index of all individuals names.
Putting together my family tree couldn't have been easier. Even with limited experience I found it possible to link together relatives, to add dates (sometimes from ancestry.co.uk - free at the Worcester History Centre) and to add generation upon generation. A job that could have kept me busy for years and end with many mistakes and wrong turnings has been possible in just a few weeks - made even easier when I discovered the Hartwell family section on your site which confirmed much of what I had already pieced together. I love this site and I dip in and out of it regularly to check out what's new and to learn more about where my grandfather came from.
If there is any help I could provide in transcribing any further paperwork onto the site I would love to get involved, to help other people to learn more too: I am based in Worcester which is not too far away, and my data entry skills are fairly high and I think I would find it interesting to help out. Either way, please keep up the good work, I love the site and will continue to use it and to point it out to others I think will find it interesting too. It is certainly a blueprint of what a local site should be able to achieve.
Sarah Ganderton, Worcester (descended from George and Letitia Hartwell of School Lane, Badsey)
Sarah has kindly offered to help us construct a list of wills made be people living in Aldington and Badsey. This will be added to the records on the website when it is complete.
I was intrigued to see the LBG photos courtesy of Les Grinnell. What a lot of memories seeing those pictures brought back - for example, I was at school with both Fred Steven's daughter and Phil Rose's son.
Most intriguing was the one with the cheque book - as the company accountant for over 40 years my father normally wrote all the cheques, until the momentous day he persuaded the committee to invest in one of the first cheque writing machines in the country (a bit like a big electric typewriter) which he took me to see and admire on the day it arrived!
These memories have led me to have a look through my archives but, sadly, of the dozens of photos I took of the LBG over the years, hardly any remain. One picture I have is a reminder that the LBG used to sell petrol (and at what prices!).
I remember the original herbery was looked after by, among others "Nucky" Grinnell and later Harry Rourke and (I think) Cecil Cox. I spent many hours as a youngster helping them turn the drying herbs on the kiln and feeding the dried material into the "mincer" for rubbing, separating and bagging in conditions which today's health and safety rules would never allow!
I am doing some research into the history of Aldington watermill, which sadly was demolished in the 1930's.
Could I ask if anybody has any material associated with the mill - documents, photos articles, billheads or even just memories - which they might consider letting me borrow?
I have been looking through the Badsey site with much interest, particularly as I am doing a little research into the Malins family. My father-in-law is the son of Wilfred and Margaret Malins of Evesham (Badsey area) and I'm scratching around for info and not getting too far as yet. There is some confusion over spelling as on BMD records my father-in-law's name is entered as both Malin and Malins. His dad Wilfred was born in July/Sept 1904 and married a Margaret Mason in Evesham in Apr/Jun 1946.
If anyone has any info I'd love to hear it and thanks for a very informative website!
Cathy Malins
Malins family II
As I attended Badsey school in the 1950s, I am interested in tracing Richard Malin, born 1882, a son of Mr John Malin born 1852. He had brothers William and Charles, Sisters Flo, Agnes, Minnie, Mary and Ruby. I can find death certificates for everyone except Richard, who may have married my grandmother in Stanton in June 1903 under the name of Wilson Malins. Their son, my father Wilfrid Malins who was a market gardener, also had sisters / brothers named Flo, Minnie, Mary, Richard with others and lived in Evesham. I am curious as my middle name is Wilson and there was a family in Badsey of Edward Wilsons who were Lords of the manor. Could there be a connection? I look forward to hearing from you.
John Wilson Malins
Malins family III
My name is Paul Edward Malins, eldest son of John Wilson Malins, only son of Wilfrid Malins son of Wilson Malins and Alice Malin born in August 1904 in Stanton. Wilfrid was always told that he was the son of Richard Malin who died in 1907 - could it be that in fact Wilfrid was an illegitimate child of the last Edward Wilson who died in 1907 and Alice Malin who died in 1911, as it appears that Alice Malin was married to George Malin at the time of his birth. If this is the case does this mean that Wilson Malins was actually the last Edward Wilson as I can find no records of a Wilson Malins being born or dying. Your help with this would be greatly appreciated.
Can anyone help with these Malins families? Can anyone explain 'Wilson' as a middle name? Edward Wilson 1820-1907 had four wives with three children from the first marriage to Sarah Roberts Taylor. I don't know of other children but it is possible that they existed. He would have to have conceived Wilfrid at the age of 83 which is biologically possible but perhaps a little unlikely.
At present I can find no connection with the Malin family of Badsey with the Malins of Evesham or Stanton or indeed with Edward Wilson. The only way to resolve the issue is for the writers to obtain a birth certificate for Wilfred whose birth was registered in Evesham in the Jul - Sept quarter of 1904. Wilfred is buried with his wife in Waterside Cemetery. I have notes of two Wilson Malins, one who married Alice Stanley in 1903 (Winchcombe) and another who married Ellen Ballard in 1878 (Pershore). The latter pair, Wilson & Ellen had a son Wilson who was born in 1882 and died in 1905. He and his parent are buried in Waterside cemetery.
Just to clarify a few matters after some research...!
John Wilson Malins (my father in law) is the son of Wilfrid Malins who was the only son of Wilson Malins Jnr who unfortunately died shortly after Wilfrid's birth. His mother, Alice Malins (formerly Stanley) remarried to Henry Daniel and supplied Wilfrid with a number of step-siblings! Wilson Malins Jnr's death was registered by his father Wilson Malins Snr who was present at the time of his death in the Greenhill area of Evesham. His mother was Ellen Malins (formerly Ballard). I've gone back several more generations after this but hopefully this info will rule out any concerns about illegitimacy etc and explain John's middle name of Wilson.
First, congratulations on your wonderful web site. I discovered it a few days ago and it is a fabulous resource, with all the photos and other features.
I am related to Eugenie Sladden, wife of Sir Julius. Not a descendent, but a distant cousin. Eugenie was the daughter of Mary Anna and John Mourilyan, who married in Tunbridge Wells, then lived in Sandwich before moving to Paris. Mary Anna was a Wood, a younger sister of my great-great grandfather Edmund Fowle Wood.
If any descendants of Eugenie and Julius Sladden are interested in information on Eugenie’s mother’s family, I would be happy to supply. I also have information about John Mourilyan, Eugenie’s father, that may be of interest.
I found your website while searching for information about my Uncle Will Stubbs and Aunt Flo as part of my family history research programme. I am very impressed by the amount of information you have been able to amass there and I wondered whether someone in Badsey might just be able to help me.
They retired from Norwich to live in a house in Badsey in the 1950s, but the problem is that I have no address for them. They were both born in Birmingham but had no children and they were rather quiet, almost reclusive people, particularly Aunt Flo, so it is unlikely that many folk beyond their immediate neighbours would have known them. A couple more details I remember was that Uncle Will was a chartered surveyor and he always ran a Rover car, which was his pride and joy.
They moved from Badsey to Cheltenham in the late 1950s / early 1960s where they both eventually died.
That is all I know of them and I shall be most grateful for any information or further leads that you might be able to give me.
I read with interest Evelyn Crane's own story of her childhood in Badsey and my attention was caught by her description of Harry Boswell from Jersey who helped escort German prisoners of war during World War One.
My great grandfather on my mother's side was "Harry the Jersey Guide". Other than an old photograph, showing Harry standing besides an open charabanc wearing his "Harry the Jersey Guide" sash I know very little about him. Mrs Crane's description of him with his rings and scented cards advertising Jersey Flowers is most interesting. The piece was most enjoyable and evocative of a bygone age. Is it possible that anyone has additional information on Harry?
Sadly Evelyn Crane died in 2003 but can anyone else give Spencer more information about Harry?
P.S. John Etheridge friartuck01@ntlworld.com wrote to us in July 2008 to say: I was desperate to find out more about my grandfather so I typed in 'Harry the Jersey Guide' only to find that someone else was looking for him. It was an even bigger surprise when I realised that it was my third cousin Spencer. Having not seen him for something like thirty years I imediately got in touch by e-mail and we had a wonderfull reunion. We were able to combine our knowledge and fill in a few of the gaps in the family history. However, we are both still looking for information on our grandfather.
I would be most grateful if you pass this on to all those kind people who mobilised themselves to help travellers stranded by the recent floods. While the stage in the village hall is not the most comfortable bed I have ever tried, it was infinitely better than trying to sleep in a car with several fellow travellers. This and the cups of tea, etc were most gratefully received.
In July 2007 Badsey and Aldington suffered the worst flooding in living memory. For about 12 hours no vehicles could enter or leave Badsey village. Roy was one of several people who were stranded and looked after in the Remembrance Hall.
My great grandfather Wilson EMMS was born in Aldington and baptised at Badsey in 1852. He was the last of six children born to John EMMS and Susan(nah) nee Hunting. They married at Bricklehampton in 1834. Wilson's siblings were Mary, born 1835 married Charles LOCKETT of Bretforton; Charles, born 1838; Ann, born 1843; Thomas, born 1845; Susannah, born 1848 married William Frederick TIMBRELL. Wilson married Eliza BROWN of Barton Mills Suffolk in London in 1879 and they had seven sons. They eventually settled in Richmond Surrey. John was one of five children baptised in Bretforton to Thomas and Elizabeth EMMS, he in 1804. I have yet to find Thomas and Elizabeth's marriage. Susannah HUNTING was born and baptised in Evesham in 1811. I have much more information than is listed here.
I would love to hear from anyone who thinks they are related to this family.
I am writing to you on behalf of the Vale of Evesham Historical Society. In the Almonry in Evesham we have on display the Badsey Fire Service cart. On the 28th July 2007 the emergency services are holding an events day on the meadow in Evesham. The Historical Society have been invited to provide a display and show some items. We intend featuring the Badsey cart, but were wondering if you and your excellent site could give us any historical details about the Fire Service of Badsey, and perhaps some photographs. Maybe someone in the village remembers a relation involved with it. This request is probably a long shot but we feel if anyone has any information you will.
On a personal level many thanks for the very useful information you have provided with my family history quest to do with my Hartwell and Willoughby ancestors of Badsey.
We have referred Helen to 'A Brief History of Badsey and Aldington' which has a section about 'A Village Fire Brigade'. Can anyone else help? Does anyone have photos?
Your website was an invaluable source of information to shed light on two branches of my family tree. I have made a "family tree" created using this information. This is only about one of the HARRIS families in your village. There was another contemporary one; I don't know if or how the two might be related, nor their origins. Please use my information and pass it on in any way you wish to, and if any other information relevant to the HARRISes comes your way I'd love to hear of it!
Thank you and best wishes,
Bob New
Evesham born and bred, but now living in Leamington Spa
Comments
Re: Kinchins and Houghtons from Badsey and Offenham
My database for Bengeworth has a George Kinchin buried in Bengeworth cemetery 1/7/1868 aged 45. Section A, Plot 87. A Mary, a widow, was buried in Bengeworth cemetery on 28/01/1908, aged 81. She was interred in Section G, Plot 18. These are possibly your great-great grandparents?
Remembering the Tandy family
My name is Pam Cotton. I live in Gippsland Victoria, Australia. I have just browsed through your delightful website, and saw the pictures belonging to my cousin Ian Tandy.
I am looking at a picture of our little red Morgan three wheeler outside 10 Glebe Street, Swadlincote where I was brought up. In the car are my younger sister Rosie and my eldest sister Joyce's son John. We spent so many happy times with Uncle Fred, Auntie Kath, Ian and Kay. I'm 75 now, but can clearly remember Uncle Fred standing on the bridge over the Badsey Brook ... and threatening to drop me in. Also although there was only a privy, Uncle Fred used to tie a piece of string so that we could pretend to flush the toilet. Auntie Kath was the best cook ever, and I loved Ian's aviary!
Thanks for the trip down memory lane,
Pam Cotton, Australia
Wilson as a first name
My great grandfather, Wilson EMMS was born in Aldington and baptised at Badsey in 1852. Wilson was unusual as a first name then, but I have noticed other births around this time with the same given name. Wilson appears in the area as a surname, and I wondered whether the name was taken from a local benefactor. Does anyone know the answer?
Regards, Julie Sutton (nee Emms) Kingston upon Thames, Surrey
Re: Wilson as a first name
The name could be related to the WILSON family who were Lords of the Manor of Badsey from 1657 to 1866. Most of the men holding that title were called Edward Wilson. I have no evidence that the Wilsons were benefactors to the EMMS family but it is a possibility. If you read through the letters below about the Malins family, they also used Wilson as a first name.
The last Edward Wilson served as a churchwarden at Badsey from Easter 1849 to Easter 1851, but seems to have left the village soon after that as he is living in Birmingham on the 1851 census and appears to be absent from the village until about 1880. So it is unlikely he was around at the time of the 1852 baptism, but may have helped the Emms family a few years earlier perhaps.
Why so many burials in 1785?
While chasing my Brittain ancestors I came across John Brittain who married Martha Adams in Offenham in 1766. They seem to have then lived in Badsey. They had 8 easy to find children which your wonderful website with Parish Records made very easy to confirm. I noticed that four were buried in 1785, in fact they were all buried between 13 September and 11 November.
I looked quickly at burials 1781 to 1789, there were an average of 11.7 burials per year and yet in 1785 it rose to 33 so I plotted the numbers for 1750 to 1805. This seems to have been a unique event so I assume the village archives may reveal what was the cause of this particular epidemic. Being a nosy retired GP I thought I would ask rather than speculate.
Robin Parkes, Henfield, West Sussex
Re: Why so many burials in 1785?
The answer probably lies in an article "Badsey suffers from a volcanic eruption" by Maureen Spinks in the Badsey Society Newsletter No 19, January 2007. A shortened and edited version is reproduced here:
Peter Stewart has kindly let us have the burial figures for the nearby villages of Bretforton and Offenham, and for the town of Evesham. He says that nothing relevant is mentioned in these registers.
Robin has added this comment: "Maureen's explanation fits very well. Infections were common and many diseases we regard as trivial now were lethal then. A population stressed by cold and starvation, for two years, becomes very susceptible to relatively trivial disease. Catch a cold, goes to chest, die of pneumonia. But in those days mumps, measles, scarlet fever, TB and many other infections were common. If you were rich you would do better but my family the 'Brittains' were probably at the very bottom of the socio-economic ladder so 4 out of 8 of their children died. Looking at the pattern of deaths I would imagine that an infection spread round killing people in sequence. There are no burials in April, May, and June 1785 and a new sequence starts in July with a peak of 10 in September. I wondered if somebody had travelled in and started an outbreak of something like smallpox."
For more on the Laki eruption see this Wikipedia article.
Vine Cottage
I note the comments in your article on Vine Cottage that its early occupancy is difficult to establish. You may wish to add that the services record for Frederick Barnard (b 1897, son of James and Mary Ann) gives his address on enlistment on 9 July 1916 as Vine Cottage, Badsey. As he was only 19 at the time, it may be safe to assume that James and Mary Ann lived there too at that date.
Going back to the 1901 census, this Barnard family is just shown in 'Badsey Village' but their entry lies between Pool House and Vine Lodge (sic). Vine Lodge is occupied by two separate market gardeners' families, Charles Knight and his mother and a lodger and Edward Clevely and his wife and two infant children.
Could Vine Lodge have been renamed later as Vine Cottage and Rose Cottage, I wonder? This would be consistent with the idea that once it may have been a single dwelling moved from Evesham. If this is the case, the renaming must have taken place between 1901 and 1916.
Don Barnard, (born Badsey, son of Ted) Leamington Spa
Cull family
I was very interested in reading your page about the Cull family. Do you know if any of the Cull sons moved to South Africa in the late 1800s? There is a strong family resemblance and we also have the names of Edward and Charles featuring in our family. I have not done any research but believe my grand father was a sweet maker who moved from England to the East London area of South Africa.
Hoping to hear from you. Regards,
Barry Cull, Durban, South Africa
Re: Cull family
Can anyone help Barry with this one?
Heads and Tales: a History of Badsey Schools
Pete attended Badsey School and sent this email to Maureen Spinks about her book Heads and Tales: a History of Badsey Schools.
I picked up the book last night after coming home from work, and I can honestly say I couldn't put it down! It was so interesting to read about John Sheppard, Elizabeth Seward (and all the other Sewards), The Reverend Thomas Hunt, and The National Society. It especially gripped me because I am familiar with almost all of the referenced locations without previously having any idea about the history. I find it so amazing how quickly things moved on when I read about the Forster's Act only becoming law in 1870, and to think I was at Badsey school in 1982, only 112 years later. Amazing to think it is only in very recent history that the mass population has been educated.
Anyway, I wanted to drop you a line to say it has been an undeniable pleasure reading your book, and so wonderful that you put so much effort into researching all the history, to make it easy for people like myself to delve into it my own local history so easily. I had no idea why Seward Road or Seward house was named so, and I had no idea about the roots of the school that I attended as a child. I'm looking forward to continuing my education this evening after work! It really is in a very readable format, and it helps to explain the current situation so well. It explains a lot of things that I almost feel ashamed for not knowing before.
My grandmother (Doreen Moore, nee Ballard) had an ancestral line tracing back to the brother of the last Abbott of Evesham. We have a copy of this family tree back to around 1500. Amazingly, like you mention in your book, it seems the whole family stayed in the same area for hundreds of years (back in 1500 they were still in Evesham, although I don't know at what point the family had settlers in Badsey). I will hunt down the family tree again, and as I read the book, I can see which members of my family were around at the time!
So many thanks again, and good luck with any future publications!
Pete Moore, Düsseldorf, Germany
Badsey Open Gardens
We visited many of your gardens this afternoon and we just want to thank you all so much for such an enjoyable afternoon. We were made very welcome and the tea and cakes were lovely. You have a lovely village and some beautiful gardens.
See you next year - so we can visit the gardens we missed today.
Sue and Tony Lock, Birmingham
Re: Badsey Open Gardens
Badsey held its first open gardens weekend on 14 & 15 June 2008. More than 20 gardens were open. Both days had fine weather, and despite several competing local events, attendances were good. The event was organised by Liz Cudd in aid of St James Church.
The Haines family and Penarth in Blackminster
I have just been reading your web site and found it very interesting .You have an Albert Haines on it who I think may be a relative of mine .The Albert I am looking for was born in Gloucestershire in about 1891. He became I am told a market gardener and had a son Charles and two daughters .
I know they lived for a time at Penarth near Cardiff in Wales but may have moved .What may be just a coincidence is that on the page of 1933 children's letters there is one from a Charles Haines and his address is 'Penarth' Blackminster, Evesham; and he mentions South Wales. I maybe completely off track here but I wonder if there is anyone who I could get in touch with that may remember the family?
Kind Regards
Mrs Susan Howell
Re: The Haines family and Penarth in Blackminster
Sue, It is a strange coincidence that I have been writing up notes this week for Albert George Haines and his wife Florence Elizabeth for an updated book on the Monumental Inscriptions of Badsey. George & his wife are buried in the churchyard in Section C, No.35.
According to the census returns Albert was born in 1892 in Aldington, the son of William & Harriett. William died in 1898, aged 39, and buried in an unmarked grave in Badsey churchyard. He married Harriett Hopkins in 1898 [Evesham District]. Harriett is in the 1901 census for Aldington with three of her children. Norris, Florence & Edith. Albert is staying with relatives at Salford Priors during the 1901 census. They were Frederick Aldington & Mary Ann (nee Hopkins) who were married in 1874 [Alcester District]. Albert married Florence Elizabeth Williams in 1918 [Newent District]. As you can see from her obituary in the Parish Magazine she was nicknamed “Welshie”. Their son Charles William, the writer of the school letter, was born in 1920 [Cardiff District]. There are other children, both male and female registered in Cardiff where the mother’s maiden name is Williams. Some of these may be the other children of Albert & Florence. Albert’s brother Norris married Florence Harris in Badsey church in 1910. I trust these are the relatives you are seeking.
Re: The Haines family and Penarth in Blackminster
In September 2012 we were contacted by Claire Sparks (nee Haines) who wrote:
I am trying to do a family tree and stumbled onto your site (which is fabulous by the way and provided me with quite a lot to work from). I found Sue's query from 2008 but have been unable to contact her as her email address no longer works. If these details are all correct I am the grand-daughter of the late Charles W Haines so I would really like to get in touch with the former writer. He married Miss Iris Annie Smith in 1941 St Andrews Church Hampton and they only had one son (the late Derek Charles Haines) – my dad. We moved to Cape Town, South Africa just after I was born. Any additional information and site references would be greatly appreciated.
Re: The Haines family and Penarth in Blackminster
Albert George Haines (1890-1957) was born at Hartpury, Gloucestershire, the second of three children of William and Annie Haines. He does not appear to be related to the other Haines families living in Badsey. Albert was still at home in Hartpury in 1911, working as a general labourer. Albert became a market gardener and started gardening in a large nursery in South Wales. He married Florence Elizabeth Williams in the Newent district in 1918. They had one son and two daughters, all born in the Cardiff district of South Wales: Charles William (1919-2005), Kathleen Maud (1921) and Muriel Florence (1922). They moved from Penarth to Blackminster in September 1932 and called their new home Penarth. The three children attended Badsey Council School. In Worcestershire, Albert had 7½ acres of land (according to the letter written in 1933 by his son). Albert died in 1957 and Florence in 1965. Florence was living at 42 Synehurst at the time of her death. Florence was known as Mrs “Welshie” Haines, to distinguish her from the other Haines family living in Badsey.
Charles William Haines (1919-2005) wrote one of the market gardening letters in April 1933 which was read on a BBC radio programme. Charles was a postman and lived in Hampton for a long time. He married Iris Annie Smith in 1941 at St Andrew’s Church, Hampton. They had one son, Derek Charles (1942). With another chap called Charlie Mills, Charles did a bit of entertaining on a Saturday night, “The Two Charlies”. Charles died in the Evesham district in June 2005.
You will note that Albert’s parentage differs from Peter’s suggestion of 2008. Since 2008, the 1911 census has come to light, which I believe places your Albert as living in Hartpury (which is in the Newent district of Gloucestershire where he subsequently married in 1918). This ties in with Sue Howell saying that her ancestor was born in Gloucestershire. The confusion was caused, I believe, because there was a William Albert Haines born at Aldington in the parish of Badsey in 1892. It would seem that both you and Sue share a common ancestor in your great-grandfather, Albert Haines, but unfortunately we have no details of her contact address.
Head boy at Badsey School in the 1930s
I saw your appeal for the names of head boys at Badsey School. I went through school a year ahead and was privileged to do the job for two years. So you can add these missing names:
1934-35 Kenneth Knight (Ken)
1936-37 and 1937-38 Richard Knight (Dick)
Besides the tasks mentioned on your webpage, there were other jobs I recall.
Happy days! Incidentally, a letter I wrote describing the life of a market gardener is also on your website.
Regards, Dick Knight, Lymington, Hampshire
Re: Head boy at Badsey School in the 1930s
You can read more about this time in Maureen Spinks's excellent history 'Heads and Tales: A History of Badsey Schools' published by the Badsey Society.
Fitting together the pieces of Hartwell family history
When researching for Hartwell family history links I knew originated in Badsey, Worcestershire, I decided to try my luck and "google" the place name. Quite by chance I came across this invaluable resource. The website contains what look to be all the school registers, church records, parish magazines, censuses and electoral registers related to the village, all lovingly transcribed onto one incredibly useful site and carefully cross referenced to a large index of all individuals names.
Putting together my family tree couldn't have been easier. Even with limited experience I found it possible to link together relatives, to add dates (sometimes from ancestry.co.uk - free at the Worcester History Centre) and to add generation upon generation. A job that could have kept me busy for years and end with many mistakes and wrong turnings has been possible in just a few weeks - made even easier when I discovered the Hartwell family section on your site which confirmed much of what I had already pieced together. I love this site and I dip in and out of it regularly to check out what's new and to learn more about where my grandfather came from.
If there is any help I could provide in transcribing any further paperwork onto the site I would love to get involved, to help other people to learn more too: I am based in Worcester which is not too far away, and my data entry skills are fairly high and I think I would find it interesting to help out. Either way, please keep up the good work, I love the site and will continue to use it and to point it out to others I think will find it interesting too. It is certainly a blueprint of what a local site should be able to achieve.
Sarah Ganderton, Worcester (descended from George and Letitia Hartwell of School Lane, Badsey)
Re: Fitting together the pieces of Hartwell family history
Sarah has kindly offered to help us construct a list of wills made be people living in Aldington and Badsey. This will be added to the records on the website when it is complete.
Remembering Littleton and Badsey Growers - I
Greetings again from Scotland.
I was intrigued to see the LBG photos courtesy of Les Grinnell. What a lot of memories seeing those pictures brought back - for example, I was at school with both Fred Steven's daughter and Phil Rose's son.
Most intriguing was the one with the cheque book - as the company accountant for over 40 years my father normally wrote all the cheques, until the momentous day he persuaded the committee to invest in one of the first cheque writing machines in the country (a bit like a big electric typewriter) which he took me to see and admire on the day it arrived!
These memories have led me to have a look through my archives but, sadly, of the dozens of photos I took of the LBG over the years, hardly any remain. One picture I have is a reminder that the LBG used to sell petrol (and at what prices!).
I remember the original herbery was looked after by, among others "Nucky" Grinnell and later Harry Rourke and (I think) Cecil Cox. I spent many hours as a youngster helping them turn the drying herbs on the kiln and feeding the dried material into the "mincer" for rubbing, separating and bagging in conditions which today's health and safety rules would never allow!
Sincerely,
Alan Bunting
Scotland
Re: Remembering Littleton and Badsey Growers - I
Alan has sent us some of his photos of LBG which we will add to our collection.
Remembering Littleton and Badsey Growers - II
I was very interested to find your web site and congratulate you - I find it most interesting.
I worked at LBG from 1948 to 1965 and remember Les Grinnell very well.
Best regards,
Alan Wood
Re: Remembering Littleton and Badsey Growers - II
Alan has put some names to the faces of the LBG Committee.
Aldington watermill
I am doing some research into the history of Aldington watermill, which sadly was demolished in the 1930's.
Could I ask if anybody has any material associated with the mill - documents, photos articles, billheads or even just memories - which they might consider letting me borrow?
I can be contacted on 01386 830755 or by email at mike@clock-shop-winchcombe.co.uk
Many thanks,
Mike Lovatt, Aldington
Malins family
Malins family I
I have been looking through the Badsey site with much interest, particularly as I am doing a little research into the Malins family. My father-in-law is the son of Wilfred and Margaret Malins of Evesham (Badsey area) and I'm scratching around for info and not getting too far as yet. There is some confusion over spelling as on BMD records my father-in-law's name is entered as both Malin and Malins. His dad Wilfred was born in July/Sept 1904 and married a Margaret Mason in Evesham in Apr/Jun 1946.
If anyone has any info I'd love to hear it and thanks for a very informative website!
Cathy Malins
Malins family II
As I attended Badsey school in the 1950s, I am interested in tracing Richard Malin, born 1882, a son of Mr John Malin born 1852. He had brothers William and Charles, Sisters Flo, Agnes, Minnie, Mary and Ruby. I can find death certificates for everyone except Richard, who may have married my grandmother in Stanton in June 1903 under the name of Wilson Malins. Their son, my father Wilfrid Malins who was a market gardener, also had sisters / brothers named Flo, Minnie, Mary, Richard with others and lived in Evesham. I am curious as my middle name is Wilson and there was a family in Badsey of Edward Wilsons who were Lords of the manor. Could there be a connection? I look forward to hearing from you.
John Wilson Malins
Malins family III
My name is Paul Edward Malins, eldest son of John Wilson Malins, only son of Wilfrid Malins son of Wilson Malins and Alice Malin born in August 1904 in Stanton. Wilfrid was always told that he was the son of Richard Malin who died in 1907 - could it be that in fact Wilfrid was an illegitimate child of the last Edward Wilson who died in 1907 and Alice Malin who died in 1911, as it appears that Alice Malin was married to George Malin at the time of his birth. If this is the case does this mean that Wilson Malins was actually the last Edward Wilson as I can find no records of a Wilson Malins being born or dying. Your help with this would be greatly appreciated.
Many Thanks, Paul Malins
Re: Malins family
Can anyone help with these Malins families? Can anyone explain 'Wilson' as a middle name? Edward Wilson 1820-1907 had four wives with three children from the first marriage to Sarah Roberts Taylor. I don't know of other children but it is possible that they existed. He would have to have conceived Wilfrid at the age of 83 which is biologically possible but perhaps a little unlikely.
Re: Malins family
At present I can find no connection with the Malin family of Badsey with the Malins of Evesham or Stanton or indeed with Edward Wilson. The only way to resolve the issue is for the writers to obtain a birth certificate for Wilfred whose birth was registered in Evesham in the Jul - Sept quarter of 1904. Wilfred is buried with his wife in Waterside Cemetery. I have notes of two Wilson Malins, one who married Alice Stanley in 1903 (Winchcombe) and another who married Ellen Ballard in 1878 (Pershore). The latter pair, Wilson & Ellen had a son Wilson who was born in 1882 and died in 1905. He and his parent are buried in Waterside cemetery.
Malin family researched
Just to clarify a few matters after some research...!
John Wilson Malins (my father in law) is the son of Wilfrid Malins who was the only son of Wilson Malins Jnr who unfortunately died shortly after Wilfrid's birth. His mother, Alice Malins (formerly Stanley) remarried to Henry Daniel and supplied Wilfrid with a number of step-siblings! Wilson Malins Jnr's death was registered by his father Wilson Malins Snr who was present at the time of his death in the Greenhill area of Evesham. His mother was Ellen Malins (formerly Ballard). I've gone back several more generations after this but hopefully this info will rule out any concerns about illegitimacy etc and explain John's middle name of Wilson.
Thanks, Cathy Malins Church Stretton, Shropshire
Sladden family
First, congratulations on your wonderful web site. I discovered it a few days ago and it is a fabulous resource, with all the photos and other features.
I am related to Eugenie Sladden, wife of Sir Julius. Not a descendent, but a distant cousin. Eugenie was the daughter of Mary Anna and John Mourilyan, who married in Tunbridge Wells, then lived in Sandwich before moving to Paris. Mary Anna was a Wood, a younger sister of my great-great grandfather Edmund Fowle Wood.
If any descendants of Eugenie and Julius Sladden are interested in information on Eugenie’s mother’s family, I would be happy to supply. I also have information about John Mourilyan, Eugenie’s father, that may be of interest.
Lesley Wood, Canada
Will and Flo Stubbs
I found your website while searching for information about my Uncle Will Stubbs and Aunt Flo as part of my family history research programme. I am very impressed by the amount of information you have been able to amass there and I wondered whether someone in Badsey might just be able to help me.
They retired from Norwich to live in a house in Badsey in the 1950s, but the problem is that I have no address for them. They were both born in Birmingham but had no children and they were rather quiet, almost reclusive people, particularly Aunt Flo, so it is unlikely that many folk beyond their immediate neighbours would have known them. A couple more details I remember was that Uncle Will was a chartered surveyor and he always ran a Rover car, which was his pride and joy.
They moved from Badsey to Cheltenham in the late 1950s / early 1960s where they both eventually died.
That is all I know of them and I shall be most grateful for any information or further leads that you might be able to give me.
Peter Stubbs, Warwick
Harry the Jersey Guide
I read with interest Evelyn Crane's own story of her childhood in Badsey and my attention was caught by her description of Harry Boswell from Jersey who helped escort German prisoners of war during World War One.
My great grandfather on my mother's side was "Harry the Jersey Guide". Other than an old photograph, showing Harry standing besides an open charabanc wearing his "Harry the Jersey Guide" sash I know very little about him. Mrs Crane's description of him with his rings and scented cards advertising Jersey Flowers is most interesting. The piece was most enjoyable and evocative of a bygone age. Is it possible that anyone has additional information on Harry?
Kind regards, Spencer Hodgetts
Re: Harry the Jersey Guide
Sadly Evelyn Crane died in 2003 but can anyone else give Spencer more information about Harry?
P.S. John Etheridge friartuck01@ntlworld.com wrote to us in July 2008 to say: I was desperate to find out more about my grandfather so I typed in 'Harry the Jersey Guide' only to find that someone else was looking for him. It was an even bigger surprise when I realised that it was my third cousin Spencer. Having not seen him for something like thirty years I imediately got in touch by e-mail and we had a wonderfull reunion. We were able to combine our knowledge and fill in a few of the gaps in the family history. However, we are both still looking for information on our grandfather.
Caught in the floods
I would be most grateful if you pass this on to all those kind people who mobilised themselves to help travellers stranded by the recent floods. While the stage in the village hall is not the most comfortable bed I have ever tried, it was infinitely better than trying to sleep in a car with several fellow travellers. This and the cups of tea, etc were most gratefully received.
Re: Caught in the floods
In July 2007 Badsey and Aldington suffered the worst flooding in living memory. For about 12 hours no vehicles could enter or leave Badsey village. Roy was one of several people who were stranded and looked after in the Remembrance Hall.
The Emms family of Aldington
My great grandfather Wilson EMMS was born in Aldington and baptised at Badsey in 1852. He was the last of six children born to John EMMS and Susan(nah) nee Hunting. They married at Bricklehampton in 1834. Wilson's siblings were Mary, born 1835 married Charles LOCKETT of Bretforton; Charles, born 1838; Ann, born 1843; Thomas, born 1845; Susannah, born 1848 married William Frederick TIMBRELL. Wilson married Eliza BROWN of Barton Mills Suffolk in London in 1879 and they had seven sons. They eventually settled in Richmond Surrey. John was one of five children baptised in Bretforton to Thomas and Elizabeth EMMS, he in 1804. I have yet to find Thomas and Elizabeth's marriage. Susannah HUNTING was born and baptised in Evesham in 1811. I have much more information than is listed here.
I would love to hear from anyone who thinks they are related to this family.
Re: The Emms family of Aldington
Julie maintains the Evesham Index which is a great resource for anyone with Ancestors in the Vale.
Badsey fire brigade
I am writing to you on behalf of the Vale of Evesham Historical Society. In the Almonry in Evesham we have on display the Badsey Fire Service cart. On the 28th July 2007 the emergency services are holding an events day on the meadow in Evesham. The Historical Society have been invited to provide a display and show some items. We intend featuring the Badsey cart, but were wondering if you and your excellent site could give us any historical details about the Fire Service of Badsey, and perhaps some photographs. Maybe someone in the village remembers a relation involved with it. This request is probably a long shot but we feel if anyone has any information you will.
On a personal level many thanks for the very useful information you have provided with my family history quest to do with my Hartwell and Willoughby ancestors of Badsey.
Regards
Helen Heath
Re: Badsey fire brigade
We have referred Helen to 'A Brief History of Badsey and Aldington' which has a section about 'A Village Fire Brigade'. Can anyone else help? Does anyone have photos?
Harris family tree
Your website was an invaluable source of information to shed light on two branches of my family tree. I have made a "family tree" created using this information. This is only about one of the HARRIS families in your village. There was another contemporary one; I don't know if or how the two might be related, nor their origins. Please use my information and pass it on in any way you wish to, and if any other information relevant to the HARRISes comes your way I'd love to hear of it!
Thank you and best wishes,
Bob New
Evesham born and bred, but now living in Leamington Spa