Sears/Stanley Wedding 1903

Wedding of 20-year-old Ellen Ann Sears to 20-year-old Ernest Stanley of Bretforton.  The marriage took place at St James’ Church, Badsey, on 21st October 1903.  The reception was in the garden of the newly-built house, Plas Gwyn, on Badsey Fields Lane (present-day No 21), which was the home of Arthur and Beatrice Sears.

Arthur Sears (the bride’s eldest brother) and his wife, Beatrice Alice (née Evans), are standing far left.  Beatrice’s widowed mother, Elizabeth Evans, was the owner of Plas Gwyn – she may have offered the tenancy to her daughter and son-in-law on their marriage the year before.

The groom’s parents, Samuel and Eliza Stanley, are seated on the left.  Eliza was a midwife and delivered many babies in the area, including Ernest and Ellen’s two children, born in 1905 and 1907.  The older people on the right are most likely the bride’s parents, Benjamin and Caroline Sears, and Elizabeth Evans. The best man (standing behind Ellen) is most likely her older brother, Frederick Sears.

Sadly, both Ernest and Ellen were to die at an early age – Ernest in 1922 aged 39 and Ellen in 1923 aged 40, leaving two teenage children.

We are grateful to Jean Matson (granddaughter of Arthur and Beatrice Sears) for allowing us to use this photo.