I have just read your site and have to tell you that I lived and worked in Badsey for twelve years without knowing my grandfather's background. The family have been living in Birmingham and I married and moved into Worcestershire, one time living at South Littleton and later Badsey. I worked at Seward House Nursing Home and lived at the top of Badsey. I decided to do family history only to find that my grandfather's family originated from Bretforton and Badsey and Bengeworth and Evesham, before moving onto Church Lench, Alcester and Great Alne, and eventually to Birmingham, down the centuries. My family name was Cormell or Cormoll and other different variants. The family are listed as living at Cormolls Yard next to the Squires House, and there is even a murder in the family! I sat in Evesham Library absolutely transfixed reading about the death of an Anne Cormell, the culprits were caught and one a Bretforton man actually hung up in Allens Barn for the villages to see.
There were Cormells for over 400 years there but they seem to have completely vanished. If there are any Cormells out there I would love to hear from you. My family starts with Issac Cormell who married Sarah Jelfs at Breforton in 1769. Amongst their siblings was Joseph my ancestor and he married Ann Percox at Offenham and their first son was called Issac and he was born at Bretforton. My ancestor however was born at Bengeworth and called Thomas Cormell in 1800 and he married Sarah Spiers at Church Lench. They in turn had Joseph my ancestor born at Alcester and he married Eliza Handy in Edgbaston, Birmingham. They were living at Great Alne with both families but Joseph who was a groom at Great Alne Mill decided to go Birmingham and work at a Mill in Edgbaston. I would love to hear from anyone connected with this family. Also born in Badsey was Hester Ainge to Samuel and Mary Ainge. (Hester was the mother of Sarah Spiers who married Thomas Cormell.) Hester married Joseph Spiers at Church Lench. If anyone has information on the Ainge family, I beleive one of Hester's sisters married a Mr.Bradley. I am enjoying my family history immensly and cannot beleive that I actually lived where some of my ancestors were born without knowing this, and also my son played for Badsey football team and his son, my grandson still plays in Badsey Rangers, how about that then ha ha.
I have spent many hours absorbing the information presented on your wonderful website. I am attempting to find more information about my mother's childhood, Doris Winifred Jelfs, who was born in Badsey in 1906 and her family. She was the youngest child of Oliver and Fanny Jelfs, the other children being Frank (or "Lop Hop" of LBG fame), Mary (married Edmond Goldsmith in London), Edmond (lived at the cycle shop in Bretforton) and Eric ( married Elsie Keen and lived in Ivy House in Chapel Street).
My mother married Ernest Rose from Childswickham in 1942. She died in 1974. I was hoping to find her on the Badsey School photographs of the early 1900s but I think they may be a little too early. If anyone can shed some light on the Jelfs of this period it would be much appreciated.
Just a quick note to thank you for such an excellent job with regard to the web site. It really is so very informative. We had visitors to The Old Farmhouse from Canada this Summer, who were researching an old relative who lived at our house at the turn of the last century. We copied a page of your web site and sent it to them to help with their research. I have given them your web address so you may receive correspondence from them. Congratulations for a job well done. The web site is actually more informative and well presented than the ones I have seen for many large towns.
Best regards and Merry Christmas,
Steve and Alison Clark
The Old Farmhouse, Birmingham Road, Blackminster.
I have looked on the website a few times in the past but gave up when I saw a picture of me, centre stage, on the beach at Weston. Since then I have not been able to excuse my mother for allowing me out in such trousers!. Seriously it was a real memory jerker.
Last week I saw that Michael Wells had joined the Friends Reunited website and I read that he was one a several who attended Green Hill School in preparatory then on to Badsey and then to Prince Henry's GS. The point being that Michael Wells is the big guy leaning over me in the photo! I wish I had photos of the days but cannot help. Others who did the same were John Miller, Peter Allard, John Allard, and myself. There were some others but memory is bad. I suppose it is only 54 years ago!
I lived in Evesham on Cheltenham Road and would catch the bus every morning from outside the Clifton Cinema. My Dad worked at National Provincial bank in the Market Square. Often a few of us would walk home from school along Badsey Lane exchanging our bus money for sweets in the shop in Badsey: a triangular paper bag full of yellow 'cali' (never had to spell it!) or cinder toffee broken off a huge slab. I could write quite well when I left Greenhill but the keen way handwriting was taught at Badsey turned my own into a mess, which it remains to this day. The whole point of the handwriting was the annual test and Mr Binyon judging the styles. I never got showed, let alone won a prize.
Mrs Peat was one of my teachers. ( I was at Badsey between 1952 and 1956 or so, till now never really thought about it.) There was a gang of us who all went on the PHGS and through to universities of some form or another. My wife, Audrey, was from Offenham ( market garden Smiths). We now live in Devon, Two daughters and I for one want to retire. Well done with the website.
Oh dear! Did you know that not only do your shorts appear on the website, but they are now recorded in the history books for posterity! Since those photos were posted on the website, we have now published "Heads and Tales: A History of Badsey Schools" (192 pages). The photo of you all on the beach at Weston appears on page 126.
I have come across your website today and find the information very interesting and detailed.
My family lived in Badsey for approximately 7 years. My grandparents were George Edward and Fanny Osmond, living at 'Ruby House, Badsey Fields Lane, Badsey' from about 1914 until 1921. The children were: Muriel (b 1907 Birmingham), Reginald (b 1914 Badsey) and my mother Helen Mary (b 1920 Birmingham).
My evidence is taken from my mother's birth certificate, dated February 1920 I would be interested in any information you have on the house or the family during this period. My grandfather's occupation in 1920 was: 'Clerk at a preserve works'. My aunt Muriel did say to me some years ago that the family moved to Badsey as her father had got a job as "a manager of a canning factory that Cadbury's had opened in Evesham". Whether these comments refer to the same job I do not know.
We do not know of a Ruby House on Badsey Fields Lane, but there is certainly a house of that name on Bretforton Road, the present-day No 15. This house would have been not too far away from his job at the canning factory on the Birmingham Road. It is now a Business Park with a number of shops and businesses. A history of the site (including an audio-visual tour) can be seen at www.blackminsterbusinesspark.co.uk and click on "Blackminster Yesterday".
Just to say how much pleasure Maureen's book Heads and Tales: A History of Badsey Schools has given my mother Margaret (nee Moisey) who is now almost 92 and living in a care home as she is physically very frail. She identified herself and one of her sisters on some of the photos and has spent hours reminiscing about various teachers and pupils and clearly remembers some of the school events mentioned. I imagine she is one of the oldest surviving Badsey-born people around by now. Thank you again - it's a great website.
I was browsing through the Badsey site where I found your article on the Hartwell family. Rachel (1838) was my g.grandmother. I found the whole piece totally fascinating. Rachel married George Winfield and had three daughters Harriet (1857) Sarah (1859) and my grandmother Elizabeth (Bessie, 1877). Elizabeth married my grandfather William Holland (Worcester 1874) and had 5 sons and 3 daughters. Their eldest son was killed in France in 1918. Rachel died in Evesham in 1902 , George ended up in the poor house in Evesham and died in 1910. Sometime after WW1 William and Bessie moved to Birmingham where most of their descendants still live. Thank you for all your hard work in tracing this family.
Many thanks for your message concerning the Hartwells. A couple of years ago we had another email from a descendant of Rachel Hartwell. According to him, George and Rachel had five children: Eliza (1856), Sarah (1858), George (1861), Harriet (1866) and Elizabeth (1877). I have just realised that this person's details are not up on the website, so I will write and ask him if he would like to be included on the Research Interests page.
Thanks for a great site not only for family researchers, but for anyone interested in Badsey for other reasons.
I am researching my family that seems to have many spelling variations in America during the Colonial Era. Our spelling is DAFFIN, but doing research I find connections to DAFFAN, DAFFRON, DAFFON, DAFFEN, DAFFORN/DAFFORNE and DAFFERN among others. There was an early DAFFORNE family in the Boston, Massachussetts area very early in the 17th century and quite possibly they were the ones who first came to the colonies from England and maybe the ancestors of my DAFFINS. I hope to find where they came. I think it is possible that the name Dafforne may have come from French origins perhaps from the Conquest in 1066 or maybe Huegonot origins.
Maybe somebody there may know of Daffornes who went to America in the 17th century. The earliest seems to be an Isaac Dafforne of Boston.
Our records show there were people called Daffern (and many variations) in Badsey between 1642 and 1784. Today our local phone book lists 4 entries for Daffern, 9 for Daffin, 1 for Daffurm and 4 for Daffurn. No one seems to be left in Badsey but two of these are in Evesham. Can anyone help on emigration to America?
Greetings and thank you for your wonderful web site. I am emailing from Australia and wish to say how much valuable information we have found in browsing through this site.
We are of the Oldacre/Simpson family from Badsey on the William and Sarah Simpson line. William Simpson was recorded as an Engineer and Whitesmith. Do you know where we can look for apprenticeship records - William was born 1795 so we would be looking for apprenticeships in the early 1800's. I tired to do a bit of a web browse but didn't come up with anything.
We would be very grateful for any suggestions you may have.
Thank you for your kind words. I have never encountered any local apprentice records and none are mentioned on the Worcestershire Records Office website. But they may well exist somewhere. There is a fee-paying website Apprentices of Great Britain 1710-1774 with about 350,000 indentures but I don't know what it is like for this area. If we find out more we will let you know.
I continue to be very impressed with this wonderful site, if only more villages had similar information online. I have Keen, Walker and Geden connections in Badsey.
Ella Geden was born about 1882 in Badsey. In 1901 she appears in your census strays list living at Aston near Birmingham. In fact Wilfrid and Daisy Geden were also at the same address, both born in Badsey. They are recorded living with their mother Sarah Geden, 44 Greengrocer. Sarah was born in Steeple Aston in Oxfordshire, and was married to George Geden. She later returned to Badsey and was buried there in 1933. In 1901 husband George was living in Badsey. It is a mystery to me why they were living apart. They do seem to have lived together again later. Can anyone help on this?
My name is Gill Badsey (married name). My husband is Michael Keith Badsey and his father is Geoffrey Badsey (only son). We visited Badsey in the summer as we do not live all that far away. We had a very enjoyable meal in the local pub. Surprised the landlord when we said our name was Badsey. I looked in the churchyard to see if I could find any old graves but sadly could not find any and it was getting a little dark when I was eventually pulled away by my husband. Is there anyone out there who could help me start to trace my husband's family history. I have been inspired by the TV programme 'Who do you think you are?'. I do not know exactly where to begin.
Hopefully I can start to put the family tree together soon.
It is good to hear Badseys have been visiting Badsey! As far as we know there has been nobody called Badsey living in the village since the seventeenth century. It is very likely that your husband's ancestors came from the village because we believe we are the only place in the world called Badsey. Have a look at our webpage about Badsey as a surname. But also try contacting Mr Mark Thursfield who is co-ordinating a one-name study for the surname Badsey. He may be able to put you in touch with other people doing family history on this surname.
I am delighted to see your excellent website and the wonderful Sladden family photographs and information you have on there. My great grandfather was Cyril Edgar Sladden. One of his children was Agnes Eugenie Sladden (born in 1924, died in 1987) who married James Alexander Lyon Naughton who was my grandfather. My grandfather like Cyril Edgar Sladden's brother Arthur Francis Savoy Sladden served in the Royal Army Medical Corps (but not in the WW1 but in WW2).
I thought the following information would be of interest, if not known already: Whilst trawling through the Internet looking for references to my surname in old Lay Subsidy records, I came across the Worcestershire Lay Subsidy Roll of ca. 1280 on the Ancestry.co.uk website. Listed in 'Villata de Evesham' is one 'Willielmo de Baddeseye' paying 18d and in 'Homburne' (Honeybourne) is listed 'Thoma de Badesheye'. These look to be even earlier references to Badsey as a surname than the Public Record Office reference to 'Nicholas de Baddeseye' in 1327. Strangely, there is no mention of Badsey itself in the Subsidy records; Aldington, Bretforton and most other surrounding villages are mentioned with their lists of subsidy payers. Any ideas why this would have been?
All the best, Richard Cudd (former Badsey resident)
We cannot explain the absence of Badsey village from the Roll. Could it have been administered as part of Aldington? Or perhaps its links with Evesham Abbey made is subject to a different system of tax collection? Can anyone help?
I am trying to tie a Sarah Amelia Wilson Daughter of Edward Wilson and Sarah Roberts Taylor of Badsey to my Tree. I believe Sarah Amelia Wilson married Alfred Walter Carter a Schoolmaster in 1871. There are two children Beatrice Matilda Carter and Giles Walter Alfred Carter. These children remained in Badsey with members of the Wilson family. I have the Carter family on the 1881 census which would seem to tie it in to the Wilson family of Badsey.
The 1st Badsey Guides are celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year. The unit started originally in 1930 and disbanded in 1950. It was restarted in 1976 by Elizabeth Bolland who is still the Guide Leader after 30 years.
There will be a Celebration Evening at the Badsey Remembrance Hall on Wednesday 15th March 2006, at 6.30pm. Are you an ex Girl Guide or helper or do you know anyone you can tell, as all will be welcome? Maybe you will see yourself on one of the archive photographs?
Please contact us (not the Badsey website) if you have any photographs or memorabilia which might be of general interest.
The photograph of Littleton & Badsey growers is the wrong way round! The building, half of which is shown on the left, was the Sundries Department and is actually at the end of the site nearest the level crossing. This building, one of the first on the site dating back to canning factory days, was used during the war as an optical works by J R Fleming a company re-located from London.
The building on the right of the picture (which has the cream coloured oblong sign on it & should, of course, be on the left) was the office block where my father, Stanley Bunting, who was LBG's accountant for many, many years looked after the LBG finances.
I was born in Blackminster and lived there until I was 21 and have many memories of the area, especially Littleton & Badsey Station (many happy hours in the signal box with signal men Smith and Tutton) the LBG (many school holidays spent working there) and, of course, Badsey School (1945-49) and Prince Henry's (1949 - 1957).
We are researching my family tree, and on my mothers side her maiden name was Pethard. Not a common name, as I have found, but we have tracked the family line back to the Badsey area to one William Pethard born in 1806 (Offenham ) and married (H)Ester. They then gave issue to Thomas Pethard in 1847 (Aldington) who via Birmingham made his way to Liverpool where all my family are. A far cry from the rural background of Evesham he became a porter.
It is made more poignant as there are no more Pethards on my mothers line as her only brother was killed during WW2. My middle name was made Pethard to move it along one more time.
However I now find that the area of Badsey is/was full of Pethards ...
I could not believe my luck when I came across your web site. Wow ... what a lot of hard work Maureen Spinks most have put in. I have gained an insight not only into my direct family but into a past way of life surrounding the Vale of Evesham and the market gardens of the area.
We intend to visit the area and soak up the atmosphere.
With all our thanks
Derek and Catriona Charters
Nuneaton, Warwickshire
We agree Maureen has worked wonders. Although it is important to remember it has been a team effort. Peter Stewart, Will Dallimore, among others, have also done great work.
Emily Jane Porter was my Grandmother. I am at present starting on my Family History so the Badsey site is of special interest. She was born on 7 Sep 1883 in Bengeworth and attended Badsey School.
I have found a book 'Helps to Worship' - a manual for Holy Communion and Daily Prayer. It has a message in it from the Vicar W H Price to my Grandmother.
I am the daughter of Walter Cyril IDIENS son of John and Alice IDIENS. When my father was a little boy circa 1890-1900 or so, the family was living in the Manor House in Evesham and I have pictures to substantiate this. The family emigrated from England to Canada in the early 1900's. They settled on Roseberry Ave in Victoria before they bought acreage in the beautiful Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, B. C. Canada. My grandparents are buried in the graveyard at Sandwick Anglican Church in Courtenay, B.C. The ashes of my father and mother have been interred next to them.
I can trace our family tree back to 1600 or so: the Idiens name being transcribed in various fashions: IDDENS; IDENS; IDDINS; IDIENS. It seems that it became IDIENS from IDDENS in or around 1686. If I recall correctly, the family was involved in the wine/whiskey industry. Something happened in the early 1900's which is what impelled our branch of the family (parents and 7 children) to emigrate to Canada. One brother remained behind Harold IDIENS. My grandmother Idiens was Alice South, who was a school teacher in 1879 at the time of her marriage to my grandfather John Idiens. (I have the mantel clock that her students gave her as a wedding present.)
I hope that some or all of the above information will help connect my branch of the family to IDIENS still living in the Vale of Evesham.
I'm researching the history of Morris Dancing in the Bengeworth/Evesham area. I have some information from English Folk Dance & Song Society, but wonder if someone can help with further details, & wonder if you have anything in your photographic collections relating to entertainments in the village from Morris Dancing sides.
The Morris & Mummers side from Bengeworth performed in the latter part of the 19th century & were known to walk miles to surrounding villages during the winter to entertain the locals.
I am also interested to know how much Mumming was done in the 1950's in Badsey & which play they performed. There are many different plays from all over the England, or did they write their own?
I've seen the photos on the website, all very interesting. Congratulations on an excellent site, so much to enjoy. I was born in Pebworth, but am living in Badsey now & although I remember Poplars Garage I was far more interested in the Cider Mill that stood on the site of Poplar Court where I live now. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Hi, I have just found your records for my Great Great Grandfather George Harwood who was born about 1836 in Church Lench and the correspondence about the Harwood family. George's grandson Thomas Henry Bennett, son of Emily, settled here in Cheshire during the 1st world war after being sent to the British Red Cross hospital at Wilmslow and marrying a local girl, Leah Birtles. I am their granddaughter.
Your site has been of great interest. I am looking for information on George's parents: a member on Genes reunited has given me his father's name as Benjamin born in Birlingham in 1795.
My sister and I are researching our family tree and history and we have noticed that some of our family originate in the Arrow and Warwickshire area including places like Evesham and Alcester. It was whilst looking on your site I noticed a few entries for the "Winnett" family and was wondering if you or someone could possibly shed some light on who they were, where about's they lived/came from?
My sincere thanks to all those who took the trouble to transcribe the registries of births marriages and burials, as well as the monuments, of St James Badsey. I am a Seward descendant, and the discovery of your website has added immeasurably to my pitiful knowledge of the family, as well as confirmed the marriage of my ancestors Elinor Seward and Richard Hall, together with the date of their union.
The worldwide web is a wonderful research tool, but without the efforts of all of you, I would have struggled for years before finding any of this information, if at all.
Super website, really interesting, I shall visit Badsey (for the first time) when I am next in England.
Although this website is run by a team of voluntary contributors, special thanks must go to the following members of that team:- Maureen Spinks for the collation and transcribing of the births, marriages and deaths, school records and census returns. Peter Stewart for the monumental inscriptions, and Richard Phillips, for the transposition of all of this data onto the webpages.
I grew up in Badsey and still feel that's where my roots are. When I was younger my nights were spent at the Badsey Cricket Club!! My great grandmother was Emma Knight who married John Collett and so linked these two well-known Badsey families together. I have traced my family history back to late 1500's and it's fascinating (it inspired me to write my first book!). I lived with my mum, Doreen Collett, brother Alan and Grandad (Samuel John Collett known as Jack) on the corner of Sands Lane. I still have family living in the village so I do come back to visit and it still feels like home.
This was, posted 13 years ago, but on thee off-chance the author still reads these, I was intrigued and wondered if we were related. My great grandfather left Willersey / Badsey but I've traced the family back and found various other local family names the Colletts married into, including Ingles and Knight.
Comments
Walking in the steps of my Cormell and Ainge ancestors
I have just read your site and have to tell you that I lived and worked in Badsey for twelve years without knowing my grandfather's background. The family have been living in Birmingham and I married and moved into Worcestershire, one time living at South Littleton and later Badsey. I worked at Seward House Nursing Home and lived at the top of Badsey. I decided to do family history only to find that my grandfather's family originated from Bretforton and Badsey and Bengeworth and Evesham, before moving onto Church Lench, Alcester and Great Alne, and eventually to Birmingham, down the centuries. My family name was Cormell or Cormoll and other different variants. The family are listed as living at Cormolls Yard next to the Squires House, and there is even a murder in the family! I sat in Evesham Library absolutely transfixed reading about the death of an Anne Cormell, the culprits were caught and one a Bretforton man actually hung up in Allens Barn for the villages to see.
There were Cormells for over 400 years there but they seem to have completely vanished. If there are any Cormells out there I would love to hear from you. My family starts with Issac Cormell who married Sarah Jelfs at Breforton in 1769. Amongst their siblings was Joseph my ancestor and he married Ann Percox at Offenham and their first son was called Issac and he was born at Bretforton. My ancestor however was born at Bengeworth and called Thomas Cormell in 1800 and he married Sarah Spiers at Church Lench. They in turn had Joseph my ancestor born at Alcester and he married Eliza Handy in Edgbaston, Birmingham. They were living at Great Alne with both families but Joseph who was a groom at Great Alne Mill decided to go Birmingham and work at a Mill in Edgbaston. I would love to hear from anyone connected with this family. Also born in Badsey was Hester Ainge to Samuel and Mary Ainge. (Hester was the mother of Sarah Spiers who married Thomas Cormell.) Hester married Joseph Spiers at Church Lench. If anyone has information on the Ainge family, I beleive one of Hester's sisters married a Mr.Bradley. I am enjoying my family history immensly and cannot beleive that I actually lived where some of my ancestors were born without knowing this, and also my son played for Badsey football team and his son, my grandson still plays in Badsey Rangers, how about that then ha ha.
Doris Winifred Jelfs
I have spent many hours absorbing the information presented on your wonderful website. I am attempting to find more information about my mother's childhood, Doris Winifred Jelfs, who was born in Badsey in 1906 and her family. She was the youngest child of Oliver and Fanny Jelfs, the other children being Frank (or "Lop Hop" of LBG fame), Mary (married Edmond Goldsmith in London), Edmond (lived at the cycle shop in Bretforton) and Eric ( married Elsie Keen and lived in Ivy House in Chapel Street).
My mother married Ernest Rose from Childswickham in 1942. She died in 1974. I was hoping to find her on the Badsey School photographs of the early 1900s but I think they may be a little too early. If anyone can shed some light on the Jelfs of this period it would be much appreciated.
The Old Farmhouse, Blackminster
Just a quick note to thank you for such an excellent job with regard to the web site. It really is so very informative. We had visitors to The Old Farmhouse from Canada this Summer, who were researching an old relative who lived at our house at the turn of the last century. We copied a page of your web site and sent it to them to help with their research. I have given them your web address so you may receive correspondence from them. Congratulations for a job well done. The web site is actually more informative and well presented than the ones I have seen for many large towns.
Best regards and Merry Christmas,
Steve and Alison Clark
The Old Farmhouse, Birmingham Road, Blackminster.
Re: The Old Farmhouse, Blackminster
In the past, the website could have been accused of neglecting Blackminster, but no more! You will find the Blackminster censuses from 1851 to 1901, historical descriptions of Birmingham Road and Station Road, historical maps from WCC, and more.
Don't look at my trousers
I have looked on the website a few times in the past but gave up when I saw a picture of me, centre stage, on the beach at Weston. Since then I have not been able to excuse my mother for allowing me out in such trousers!. Seriously it was a real memory jerker.
Last week I saw that Michael Wells had joined the Friends Reunited website and I read that he was one a several who attended Green Hill School in preparatory then on to Badsey and then to Prince Henry's GS. The point being that Michael Wells is the big guy leaning over me in the photo! I wish I had photos of the days but cannot help. Others who did the same were John Miller, Peter Allard, John Allard, and myself. There were some others but memory is bad. I suppose it is only 54 years ago!
I lived in Evesham on Cheltenham Road and would catch the bus every morning from outside the Clifton Cinema. My Dad worked at National Provincial bank in the Market Square. Often a few of us would walk home from school along Badsey Lane exchanging our bus money for sweets in the shop in Badsey: a triangular paper bag full of yellow 'cali' (never had to spell it!) or cinder toffee broken off a huge slab. I could write quite well when I left Greenhill but the keen way handwriting was taught at Badsey turned my own into a mess, which it remains to this day. The whole point of the handwriting was the annual test and Mr Binyon judging the styles. I never got showed, let alone won a prize.
Mrs Peat was one of my teachers. ( I was at Badsey between 1952 and 1956 or so, till now never really thought about it.) There was a gang of us who all went on the PHGS and through to universities of some form or another. My wife, Audrey, was from Offenham ( market garden Smiths). We now live in Devon, Two daughters and I for one want to retire. Well done with the website.
Regards, Peter Hall
Re: Don't look at my trousers
Oh dear! Did you know that not only do your shorts appear on the website, but they are now recorded in the history books for posterity! Since those photos were posted on the website, we have now published "Heads and Tales: A History of Badsey Schools" (192 pages). The photo of you all on the beach at Weston appears on page 126.
Ruby House, Badsey Fields Lane?
I have come across your website today and find the information very interesting and detailed.
My family lived in Badsey for approximately 7 years. My grandparents were George Edward and Fanny Osmond, living at 'Ruby House, Badsey Fields Lane, Badsey' from about 1914 until 1921. The children were: Muriel (b 1907 Birmingham), Reginald (b 1914 Badsey) and my mother Helen Mary (b 1920 Birmingham).
My evidence is taken from my mother's birth certificate, dated February 1920 I would be interested in any information you have on the house or the family during this period. My grandfather's occupation in 1920 was: 'Clerk at a preserve works'. My aunt Muriel did say to me some years ago that the family moved to Badsey as her father had got a job as "a manager of a canning factory that Cadbury's had opened in Evesham". Whether these comments refer to the same job I do not know.
Re: Ruby House, Badsey Fields Lane?
We do not know of a Ruby House on Badsey Fields Lane, but there is certainly a house of that name on Bretforton Road, the present-day No 15. This house would have been not too far away from his job at the canning factory on the Birmingham Road. It is now a Business Park with a number of shops and businesses. A history of the site (including an audio-visual tour) can be seen at www.blackminsterbusinesspark.co.uk and click on "Blackminster Yesterday".
Margaret Moisey and Badsey School
Just to say how much pleasure Maureen's book Heads and Tales: A History of Badsey Schools has given my mother Margaret (nee Moisey) who is now almost 92 and living in a care home as she is physically very frail. She identified herself and one of her sisters on some of the photos and has spent hours reminiscing about various teachers and pupils and clearly remembers some of the school events mentioned. I imagine she is one of the oldest surviving Badsey-born people around by now. Thank you again - it's a great website.
Best wishes, Alex Withnall
Hartwells of Badsey
I was browsing through the Badsey site where I found your article on the Hartwell family. Rachel (1838) was my g.grandmother. I found the whole piece totally fascinating. Rachel married George Winfield and had three daughters Harriet (1857) Sarah (1859) and my grandmother Elizabeth (Bessie, 1877). Elizabeth married my grandfather William Holland (Worcester 1874) and had 5 sons and 3 daughters. Their eldest son was killed in France in 1918. Rachel died in Evesham in 1902 , George ended up in the poor house in Evesham and died in 1910. Sometime after WW1 William and Bessie moved to Birmingham where most of their descendants still live. Thank you for all your hard work in tracing this family.
Best wishes, Katherine Veitch
Re: Hartwells of Badsey
Many thanks for your message concerning the Hartwells. A couple of years ago we had another email from a descendant of Rachel Hartwell. According to him, George and Rachel had five children: Eliza (1856), Sarah (1858), George (1861), Harriet (1866) and Elizabeth (1877). I have just realised that this person's details are not up on the website, so I will write and ask him if he would like to be included on the Research Interests page.
Dafforne family
Thanks for a great site not only for family researchers, but for anyone interested in Badsey for other reasons.
I am researching my family that seems to have many spelling variations in America during the Colonial Era. Our spelling is DAFFIN, but doing research I find connections to DAFFAN, DAFFRON, DAFFON, DAFFEN, DAFFORN/DAFFORNE and DAFFERN among others. There was an early DAFFORNE family in the Boston, Massachussetts area very early in the 17th century and quite possibly they were the ones who first came to the colonies from England and maybe the ancestors of my DAFFINS. I hope to find where they came. I think it is possible that the name Dafforne may have come from French origins perhaps from the Conquest in 1066 or maybe Huegonot origins.
Maybe somebody there may know of Daffornes who went to America in the 17th century. The earliest seems to be an Isaac Dafforne of Boston.
Richard Largaespada www.daffin.org
Re: Dafforne family
Our records show there were people called Daffern (and many variations) in Badsey between 1642 and 1784. Today our local phone book lists 4 entries for Daffern, 9 for Daffin, 1 for Daffurm and 4 for Daffurn. No one seems to be left in Badsey but two of these are in Evesham. Can anyone help on emigration to America?
Simpson family
Greetings and thank you for your wonderful web site. I am emailing from Australia and wish to say how much valuable information we have found in browsing through this site.
We are of the Oldacre/Simpson family from Badsey on the William and Sarah Simpson line. William Simpson was recorded as an Engineer and Whitesmith. Do you know where we can look for apprenticeship records - William was born 1795 so we would be looking for apprenticeships in the early 1800's. I tired to do a bit of a web browse but didn't come up with anything.
We would be very grateful for any suggestions you may have.
Cheers, Liz and Graeme Sketchley
Australia
Re: Simpson family
Thank you for your kind words. I have never encountered any local apprentice records and none are mentioned on the Worcestershire Records Office website. But they may well exist somewhere. There is a fee-paying website Apprentices of Great Britain 1710-1774 with about 350,000 indentures but I don't know what it is like for this area. If we find out more we will let you know.
Geden, Keen and Walker families
I continue to be very impressed with this wonderful site, if only more villages had similar information online. I have Keen, Walker and Geden connections in Badsey.
Ella Geden was born about 1882 in Badsey. In 1901 she appears in your census strays list living at Aston near Birmingham. In fact Wilfrid and Daisy Geden were also at the same address, both born in Badsey. They are recorded living with their mother Sarah Geden, 44 Greengrocer. Sarah was born in Steeple Aston in Oxfordshire, and was married to George Geden. She later returned to Badsey and was buried there in 1933. In 1901 husband George was living in Badsey. It is a mystery to me why they were living apart. They do seem to have lived together again later. Can anyone help on this?
Who knows about the Badsey surname?
My name is Gill Badsey (married name). My husband is Michael Keith Badsey and his father is Geoffrey Badsey (only son). We visited Badsey in the summer as we do not live all that far away. We had a very enjoyable meal in the local pub. Surprised the landlord when we said our name was Badsey. I looked in the churchyard to see if I could find any old graves but sadly could not find any and it was getting a little dark when I was eventually pulled away by my husband. Is there anyone out there who could help me start to trace my husband's family history. I have been inspired by the TV programme 'Who do you think you are?'. I do not know exactly where to begin.
Hopefully I can start to put the family tree together soon.
Regards, Gill Badsey
Re: Who knows about the Badsey surname?
It is good to hear Badseys have been visiting Badsey! As far as we know there has been nobody called Badsey living in the village since the seventeenth century. It is very likely that your husband's ancestors came from the village because we believe we are the only place in the world called Badsey. Have a look at our webpage about Badsey as a surname. But also try contacting Mr Mark Thursfield who is co-ordinating a one-name study for the surname Badsey. He may be able to put you in touch with other people doing family history on this surname.
Sladden family connection
I am delighted to see your excellent website and the wonderful Sladden family photographs and information you have on there. My great grandfather was Cyril Edgar Sladden. One of his children was Agnes Eugenie Sladden (born in 1924, died in 1987) who married James Alexander Lyon Naughton who was my grandfather. My grandfather like Cyril Edgar Sladden's brother Arthur Francis Savoy Sladden served in the Royal Army Medical Corps (but not in the WW1 but in WW2).
An even earlier case of Badsey as a surname
I thought the following information would be of interest, if not known already: Whilst trawling through the Internet looking for references to my surname in old Lay Subsidy records, I came across the Worcestershire Lay Subsidy Roll of ca. 1280 on the Ancestry.co.uk website. Listed in 'Villata de Evesham' is one 'Willielmo de Baddeseye' paying 18d and in 'Homburne' (Honeybourne) is listed 'Thoma de Badesheye'. These look to be even earlier references to Badsey as a surname than the Public Record Office reference to 'Nicholas de Baddeseye' in 1327. Strangely, there is no mention of Badsey itself in the Subsidy records; Aldington, Bretforton and most other surrounding villages are mentioned with their lists of subsidy payers. Any ideas why this would have been?
All the best, Richard Cudd (former Badsey resident)
Re: An even earlier case of Badsey as a surname
We cannot explain the absence of Badsey village from the Roll. Could it have been administered as part of Aldington? Or perhaps its links with Evesham Abbey made is subject to a different system of tax collection? Can anyone help?
Wilson and Taylor families
I am trying to tie a Sarah Amelia Wilson Daughter of Edward Wilson and Sarah Roberts Taylor of Badsey to my Tree. I believe Sarah Amelia Wilson married Alfred Walter Carter a Schoolmaster in 1871. There are two children Beatrice Matilda Carter and Giles Walter Alfred Carter. These children remained in Badsey with members of the Wilson family. I have the Carter family on the 1881 census which would seem to tie it in to the Wilson family of Badsey.
Have you any information on Sarah Amelia?
Regards Avril Thompson
Re: Wilson and Taylor families
This is a shortened version of Avril's letter which began a correspondence between her and Maureen Spinks about these Badsey families. Here is more of what they wrote, some notes on Taylor family history, and some Wilson family obituaries 1907 - 1912.
50 years of Badsey Girl Guides - celebration and memories
The 1st Badsey Guides are celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year. The unit started originally in 1930 and disbanded in 1950. It was restarted in 1976 by Elizabeth Bolland who is still the Guide Leader after 30 years.
There will be a Celebration Evening at the Badsey Remembrance Hall on Wednesday 15th March 2006, at 6.30pm. Are you an ex Girl Guide or helper or do you know anyone you can tell, as all will be welcome? Maybe you will see yourself on one of the archive photographs?
Please contact us (not the Badsey website) if you have any photographs or memorabilia which might be of general interest.
Ralph and Elizabeth Bolland
Badsey
LBG through the looking glass
Greetings from Scotland!
The photograph of Littleton & Badsey growers is the wrong way round! The building, half of which is shown on the left, was the Sundries Department and is actually at the end of the site nearest the level crossing. This building, one of the first on the site dating back to canning factory days, was used during the war as an optical works by J R Fleming a company re-located from London.
The building on the right of the picture (which has the cream coloured oblong sign on it & should, of course, be on the left) was the office block where my father, Stanley Bunting, who was LBG's accountant for many, many years looked after the LBG finances.
I was born in Blackminster and lived there until I was 21 and have many memories of the area, especially Littleton & Badsey Station (many happy hours in the signal box with signal men Smith and Tutton) the LBG (many school holidays spent working there) and, of course, Badsey School (1945-49) and Prince Henry's (1949 - 1957).
Love the WEB site!
Sincerely,
Alan Bunting
Scotland
Re: LBG through the looking glass
Thanks, Alan. Hopefully we now have the photo the right way round.
Full of Pethards
We are researching my family tree, and on my mothers side her maiden name was Pethard. Not a common name, as I have found, but we have tracked the family line back to the Badsey area to one William Pethard born in 1806 (Offenham ) and married (H)Ester. They then gave issue to Thomas Pethard in 1847 (Aldington) who via Birmingham made his way to Liverpool where all my family are. A far cry from the rural background of Evesham he became a porter.
It is made more poignant as there are no more Pethards on my mothers line as her only brother was killed during WW2. My middle name was made Pethard to move it along one more time.
However I now find that the area of Badsey is/was full of Pethards ...
I could not believe my luck when I came across your web site. Wow ... what a lot of hard work Maureen Spinks most have put in. I have gained an insight not only into my direct family but into a past way of life surrounding the Vale of Evesham and the market gardens of the area.
We intend to visit the area and soak up the atmosphere.
With all our thanks
Derek and Catriona Charters
Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Re: Full of Pethards
We agree Maureen has worked wonders. Although it is important to remember it has been a team effort. Peter Stewart, Will Dallimore, among others, have also done great work.
Emily Jane Porter
Emily Jane Porter was my Grandmother. I am at present starting on my Family History so the Badsey site is of special interest. She was born on 7 Sep 1883 in Bengeworth and attended Badsey School.
I have found a book 'Helps to Worship' - a manual for Holy Communion and Daily Prayer. It has a message in it from the Vicar W H Price to my Grandmother.
Re: Emily Jane Porter
Sue sent us a photograph of the book inscription which appears in a short article about the Rev Price.
Idiens surname
I am the daughter of Walter Cyril IDIENS son of John and Alice IDIENS. When my father was a little boy circa 1890-1900 or so, the family was living in the Manor House in Evesham and I have pictures to substantiate this. The family emigrated from England to Canada in the early 1900's. They settled on Roseberry Ave in Victoria before they bought acreage in the beautiful Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, B. C. Canada. My grandparents are buried in the graveyard at Sandwick Anglican Church in Courtenay, B.C. The ashes of my father and mother have been interred next to them.
I can trace our family tree back to 1600 or so: the Idiens name being transcribed in various fashions: IDDENS; IDENS; IDDINS; IDIENS. It seems that it became IDIENS from IDDENS in or around 1686. If I recall correctly, the family was involved in the wine/whiskey industry. Something happened in the early 1900's which is what impelled our branch of the family (parents and 7 children) to emigrate to Canada. One brother remained behind Harold IDIENS. My grandmother Idiens was Alice South, who was a school teacher in 1879 at the time of her marriage to my grandfather John Idiens. (I have the mantel clock that her students gave her as a wedding present.)
I hope that some or all of the above information will help connect my branch of the family to IDIENS still living in the Vale of Evesham.
Sincerely, Rosanne Richards (Idiens)
Canada
Re: Idiens surname
Can anyone give Rosanne more information. Is the Harold Idiens she mentions the same Harold who was buried in Badsey churchyard in 1953?
Morris Dancing & Mummers
I'm researching the history of Morris Dancing in the Bengeworth/Evesham area. I have some information from English Folk Dance & Song Society, but wonder if someone can help with further details, & wonder if you have anything in your photographic collections relating to entertainments in the village from Morris Dancing sides.
The Morris & Mummers side from Bengeworth performed in the latter part of the 19th century & were known to walk miles to surrounding villages during the winter to entertain the locals.
I am also interested to know how much Mumming was done in the 1950's in Badsey & which play they performed. There are many different plays from all over the England, or did they write their own?
I've seen the photos on the website, all very interesting. Congratulations on an excellent site, so much to enjoy. I was born in Pebworth, but am living in Badsey now & although I remember Poplars Garage I was far more interested in the Cider Mill that stood on the site of Poplar Court where I live now. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Regards, Rosie Stroud
Poplar Court, Badsey
Re: Morris Dancing & Mummers
We have a photo of Badsey Mummers about 1950. Does anyone have more information?
George Harwood
Hi, I have just found your records for my Great Great Grandfather George Harwood who was born about 1836 in Church Lench and the correspondence about the Harwood family. George's grandson Thomas Henry Bennett, son of Emily, settled here in Cheshire during the 1st world war after being sent to the British Red Cross hospital at Wilmslow and marrying a local girl, Leah Birtles. I am their granddaughter.
Your site has been of great interest. I am looking for information on George's parents: a member on Genes reunited has given me his father's name as Benjamin born in Birlingham in 1795.
Regards, Pam Preston, Cheshire
Winnett family
My sister and I are researching our family tree and history and we have noticed that some of our family originate in the Arrow and Warwickshire area including places like Evesham and Alcester. It was whilst looking on your site I noticed a few entries for the "Winnett" family and was wondering if you or someone could possibly shed some light on who they were, where about's they lived/came from?
Stuart Doughty and Sally Taylor
Magnifique website—music to our ears
My sincere thanks to all those who took the trouble to transcribe the registries of births marriages and burials, as well as the monuments, of St James Badsey. I am a Seward descendant, and the discovery of your website has added immeasurably to my pitiful knowledge of the family, as well as confirmed the marriage of my ancestors Elinor Seward and Richard Hall, together with the date of their union.
The worldwide web is a wonderful research tool, but without the efforts of all of you, I would have struggled for years before finding any of this information, if at all.
Super website, really interesting, I shall visit Badsey (for the first time) when I am next in England.
Helen Wagner née Kingham
Re: Magnifique website—music to our ears
Although this website is run by a team of voluntary contributors, special thanks must go to the following members of that team:- Maureen Spinks for the collation and transcribing of the births, marriages and deaths, school records and census returns. Peter Stewart for the monumental inscriptions, and Richard Phillips, for the transposition of all of this data onto the webpages.
Two old Badsey families—a new dawning
I grew up in Badsey and still feel that's where my roots are. When I was younger my nights were spent at the Badsey Cricket Club!! My great grandmother was Emma Knight who married John Collett and so linked these two well-known Badsey families together. I have traced my family history back to late 1500's and it's fascinating (it inspired me to write my first book!). I lived with my mum, Doreen Collett, brother Alan and Grandad (Samuel John Collett known as Jack) on the corner of Sands Lane. I still have family living in the village so I do come back to visit and it still feels like home.
Congratulations on your wonderful website.
Re: Two old Badsey families—a new dawning
This was, posted 13 years ago, but on thee off-chance the author still reads these, I was intrigued and wondered if we were related. My great grandfather left Willersey / Badsey but I've traced the family back and found various other local family names the Colletts married into, including Ingles and Knight.