Letter from the Reverend Peter Braby, former Vicar of Badsey, Aldington and Wickhamford (1958-1973), to his successor, Reverend Adrian Leak (1973-1980), enclosing his researches over many years on the history of Badsey, Aldington and Wickhamford. The letter says:
3 Farriers Road
Middle Barton
Oxford
OX5 4EU24th February 1977
Dear Adrian
Herewith the results of my researches over many years on the history of Badsey, Aldington and Wickhamford. I am sorry I have been so long in letting you have them, but it was not until retirement that I had time to collate and copy much of it from various notebooks.
You will see there is not much that is archaeological or mediaeval in these records. These can be studies in easily accessible works like the Victoria County History, Nash’s History of Worcestershire, etc. Arthur Jones’ fine collection of Roman coins from Badsey is in the Worcester City Museum. No man knew more about the history of Badsey, and it is sad that he died without leaving a single written note. C A Binyon likewise left very little though he did write some articles for the Parish Review, and made a number of transcripts of churchwardens’ accounts, etc. Badsey is very fortunate in having such splendid parochial records: registers complete from 1538, churchwardens’ accounts from 1525, overseers’ and constables’ accounts, vestry books, etc and Wickhamford also has a complete set of registers, and the marvellous Manor Court book started by Robert Dover of Dover’s Games. All these, as you know, are in the County Record Office, and I have not copied much material from these, but confined myself to other records not originally in “the parish chest” when I came to Badsey.
There is much still to be explored, by Robert Seaman or others. I have done very little on old wills and inventories. The Worcestershire Record Office at St Helen’s have just acquired from the PRO microfilm of the hearth tax returns for Worcestershire in the 1660s. These would contain valuable information. There must be much in the unindexed Quarter Sessions papers after 1660, in Shire Hall, for anyone who has the time. Evesham Journal reports of the late 19th century and early 20th should yield very much.
When I first started, I was not at all experienced in deciphering 17th century handwriting, and there are some gaps in my transcribing of some of these documents which I did some years ago.
With best wishes
Yours ever
Peter
PS – As you no doubt know, the Brazier family have done a good deal of useful research, particularly on more recent history.