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Max Sinclair - 20th February 2004 - 0:00

My uncle Maurice Harvey lived at the Manor when he came with the evacuees to Badsey from Birmingham. Up in the attics there was all sorts of graffiti left by the German Prisoners.

Maurice Harvey was a schoolmaster at Prince Edwards Grammar School, Birmingham before the war living in Quinton. At the outbreak of hostilities the school was compulsorily evacuated to the Evesham area. Maurice, his wife Madge, and two children Pamela and Richard were housed in the Manor House. This sparsely furnished rambling house was a cultural shock after their modern home. Having survived a terrible winter trying to keep warm with open fires they moved to a house on a market garden, from memory along the Littleton Road.

I remember helping to sterilise soil using steam pipes from a large portable steam engine. This started my interest in engines which has been a lifetime hobby. When the war was drawing to a close and the school's return planned, uncle decided to try and stay. He had become a countryman growing asparagus and teaching my father the tricks. He applied for the Badsey School headship and moved into the School House.

While war is a terrible business for Uncle it was a blessing and the family enjoyed their Badsey involvement. He lost his brother Henry in the First World War so was well aware of the tragedies. Incidentally his Great Grandfather was Thomas Winter (alias Spring) of Fownhope, Herefordshire who was Champion of England at bare fist boxing having won his title before 40,000 spectators on Worcesters Pitchcroft racecourse. He is honoured in the American Hall of fame. No doubt Maurice stopped many a playground fight. I hope this will give ex-pupils a little insight into their headmaster.

Max Sinclair, Lower Broadheath Worcester

Betty Syril - 15th February 2004 - 0:00

I am trying to find any info on George Syril. He was in the 3rd Gloucester Regiment. He came to Badsey while he was in the army as a friend of the Bayliss Family. George married Linda Hodgkins on 17th November 1919 at Childswickham. George died in 1944 and is buried in the church grounds at St James Church Badsey. If you have any info it would be helpful.

Betty Syril and I live at Guiseley. Leeds

Tony Jerram - 16th February 2004 - 0:00

In reply to by Betty Syril

I passed on Betty's enquiry to Desmond Syril of Green Leys Badsey. He is a son of George Syril and he has offered to give Betty information about his father.

Matt & Martine Johnson - 10th February 2004 - 0:00

We've just enjoyed browsing through the website and have found it very interesting. We were hoping to find out a bit about the history of our cottage, The Dovecote (formerly known as Stewart Cottage) in Aldington. We would be very interested to know if you have any details, pictures, etc or if not where we could possibly try to track these things down. We hope that you might be able to help.

Many thanks, Matt & Martine Johnson, Aldington

Ted Heath - 5th February 2004 - 0:00

I was very interested in the information about Thomas Walter Green (father and son) in your recent article on Houses that no longer exist. I am researching T.W.Green junr. because he published postcards (or had them published on his behalf) at his toy and confectioner's shop at 58, High Street, Evesham. I have attached some information about him which I found in the Evesham Journal 1914 (he died on 31 July 1914) plus various directory entries. My main interest is researching Worcestershire postcard publishers, e.g. Crisp's Series of Badsey published in Teesee Series (Thompson of Coventry) and Worcestershire history in general. This is a bit difficult as I live in Greenwich which is why I find your website so useful. Hope the information is of some use.

Ted Heath, Systems Librarian Southwark College, London

Dick Mathews - 1st February 2004 - 0:00

First let me congratulate all those responsible for a truly amazing website. My late father in law was one of the many bearing the Knight name to hale from Badsey, and it's been an absolute godsend to me in trying to discover his ancestry. Clearly such a wealth of material is bound to contain some interpretations of old writing which others with the benefit of additional material might conclude are probably not correct. I think I've found one such, and I hope you'll be able to check and correct if necessary.

In the index there are references to my wife's ancestor Edwin Knight born in 1844, who married at Badsey church on 30 Nov 1868. According to your index entry to the marriage registers his bride was Sarah DANBREY. The copy of the marriage certificate which I have from the General Register Office shows her surname to be what I read as DAUBNEY, rather than DANBREY. Edwin and Sarah appear in several census entries, all of which give her place of birth as Longborough. In the 1851 census for Longborough (HO 107 / 1790 pages 331 et seq) on schedule 99 are John DAUBNEY and his family, including a daughter Sarah, aged 3. There are six other schedules featuring people bearing this surname, which I assume must be a common one there. By contrast the FreeBMD site, which contains over 70 million entries from the civil registration indexes, has only one person named Danbrey!

With best wishes, Dick Mathews

Kathleen Harris - 20th January 2004 - 0:00

I first want to commend you on such a beautiful website. My name is Kathleen Harris, and for the last few months I have been conducting a genealogical search for my surname. In my search, I came across family records from a departed uncle that had kept some family information showing me that my family originated in Badsey England.

Through your site, I have grown fond of what it must have been like to have grown up and lived in Badsey. I have never found another site like this out there. You should be proud.

Now, the most interesting information that I would love to see if you can assist me in. I was looking through the Badsey School photos, and one in particular caught my attention. Badsey School History: The Earliest Years lists a reference to Elizabeth Harris the grandmother of Geoffrey Hancock, and I believe it was submitted by Geoffs wife Peggy. (I have her surname in our records as Margaret Mary Ingles) This is my family - the Harris/Hancock side. I would love to see if there is a way to get this message to them, and confirm such.

See Elizabeth, was the sister to my Great Great grandfather, who left England for New York, USA. I had been stuck for many years at his line, until I found the records. To know that there are others with relations to me still living, let alone in the Badsey area makes me more than interested to reach out and learn more. Could you offer advice on how I could get the word to them, and others?

If you can, I greatly appreciate it. If not, then I shall continue to search and will remain a faithful visitor to this site. Wishing more towns/villages would take the effort to document their history as you have done.

Much appreciation, Kathleen Harris, Boston, Massachusetts US

Thank you very much about your kind comments about our website. Peggy Hancock is a keen family historian and a member of The Badsey Society, but is not a computer user. She lives in Evesham, so I will put a copy of your e-mail through her door. In the meantime, could you let me know your postal address, please, so that I can pass this information on to her. I see that Elizabeth Harris had two brothers, Thomas and David. Which one are you descended from? When did he go to the USA? Do you have any information which would be of interest to the website?

Mrs Margaret A Roberts - 10th January 2004 - 0:00

I came across your website whilst trying to find information on ivory carvers in England and I note that Bertram Jones's great grandfather was also an ivory carver. Does anyone know his name? My ancestor Thomas Moody Jacobs(1805 - 1851) carried on the same craft in Manchester, Liverpool and London and I wondered whether there was any possibility of a connection. Can you help please?

Yours faithfully, Margaret A Roberts (Mrs)

Maureen Spinks - 11th January 2004 - 0:00

In reply to by Mrs Margaret A Roberts

Thank you for your enquiry. I'm afraid nothing is known about Bertram Jones' ancestors. He and his wife moved from London to Badsey during the Second World War, to escape the bombing.

Allan Warmington - 5th January 2004 - 0:00

First of all congratulations on your excellent website. We have a couple of Campden websites, but yours is one I shall tell them they must emulate - though I doubt if we shall find anyone with the time or energy to do so. The Historical Society archives are mainly held as hard copy, though we have a growing amount of photographic records and oral history on computer.

I am interested in the Warmington, Bennett and Parker families of Badsey - all ancestors of mine. This is not a request for information, but I hope it might be helpful for your archives to fill in a few links.

The Parkers at The Manor House. About 1850 a young farmer, Edward (or William) Parker and his elder sister Prudence, or Prudence Grace, (both unmarried) moved into Manor House (folio 335 on the 1851 Badsey census). They were the son and daughter of William and Mary Parker and I imagine the house and farm had been bought - or leased - for them by the parents. The father, William had been born in Welford, where the Parker line stretches back to to the very early 18th century and probably earlier. William senior later moved from Welford, apparently first to Pillerton Hersey where in 1824 he married a Mary Smith of that village. Although originally a farmer, the couple later moved to Warwick and he may have taken up another occupation or profession.

By 1861, William and Mary, now retired, had moved into the Manor House with their son, (f.73; 1861) who was now married. (Your version of the census says Emilia Parker was William junr's sister; in fact she was his wife). Edward (henceforth always called William) by then had three children. It is interesting that all of the children were named after relatives : William Corbett (Corbett was the maiden name of Emilia) Emiia Grace, and Prudence Mary. Edward's sister Prudence Grace (of whom more later) had by then left the house. The elder Parkers are buried near the church door in Badsey, and Mary's grave states she was 'of the Manor House'.

The Warmingtons. Also by 1861, William Warmington had moved into Badsey and was at the Bell Inn. William was the youngest son of John Warmington of Wilmcote. John had moved to Wilmcote from Bidford (or possibly Marlcliff) as a young man to work in the newly opened quarries there. He had later married the daughter of the landlord of the Swan Inn in Wilmcote (later known as the Swan House Hotel, and now, I believe, Arden House Hotel). He had thus inherited the Swan. Having given up his former occupation, he farmed as well as being a brewer and publican. William followed in his footsteps and at the time of his marriage in 1854 he was farming in Dorsington. William had in fact married Prudence Grace Parker from Badsey Manor House.

Allan Warmington, Chipping Campden
January 2004

Emma Butters - 5th December 2003 - 0:00

I am an ex student from Badsey first school and am very confused with what I recently read in the Evesham Journal. I left badsey 6 years ago and now am in year 11 at Prince Henrys High, Evesham. During my time at Badsey, in year 3 ( 9 years ago) we all celebrated the 100th anniversary of the school, so how is it now that 9 years on the school is 150 years old? I have photos of the pupils on the field in a 100 shape which was taken by a helicopter and remember well that we dressed up in Victorian outfits, so I am not mistaken. Please could you get back to me, and explain how Badsey is 150 years old.

Thank you, Emma Butters

The answer is a simple one. The school building was 100 years old in 1995.

Badsey National School opened on 1st November 1854 in premises which have now become the British Legion. The school was a Church school and was funded by voluntary contributions. However, by the 1880s, it was running into financial problems, and in May 1893, the responsibility for educating the local children passed to a local Board. From May 1893, it was known as Badsey Board School. At this time, the population of Badsey was growing quickly with the growth of market gardening, and the Board either had to extend the school already in existence or move to new premises. The opportunity came up to purchase some land, so it was decided to build on a new site. On 21st June 1895, the teachers and children were able to move into the new building. The building was much smaller in those days, and has been extended extensively over the years.

From 1903-1948, the school was called Badsey Council School, from 1948-1975 it was called Badsey County Primary School, from 1975 to the present day, it has been known as Badsey First School. In a sense, there's a chance for lots of anniversaries - the original founding of the school, the move to the new building, or since it became known as Badsey First School!

It's the same with your current school. I believe Prince Henry's moved to its current premises in 1911, but the school foundation is much much older, dating back several hundred years.

Hope this helps and that you are reassured that your maths is still OK! More information about the school history can be found on this website.

Pam Copson - 9th November 2003 - 0:00

I came across your site during a search engine trawl for information, specifically "exactly when in 1943 was the wartime ban on ringing lifted?" My reason for writing is to say that you have all the (very nice) photos of St James' bells upside down! When bells are set for ringing they are mouth upwards and the clapper (painted a nice shade of blue on these) rests against the edge of the bell. If they had been in the 'down' position (as after ringing is finished) they hang downwards like in your photos. But the clappers then would hang centrally in the bell, not touching the side of the bell.

I've enjoyed ringing at Badsey on a number of occasions and will copy a copy of this to Hilary Bolton and Roger Savory, both of whom know me!

With best wishes, Pam Copson

Roger Savory - 15th November 2003 - 0:00

In reply to by Pam Copson

Hello Everyone, It is some time since I have looked at the Badsey website. Consequently I had not seen the addition of the pictures of Badsey's bells, inserted in several places on the site. This evening I took the time to take a look, following Pam Copson's e-mail note.

She is, of course, quite correct in her statement that the pictures of the bells, in every case, having been inserted upside down. I have known Pam for quite some time, and we usually meet up in some belfry or another (or pub) when I'm back over in the Vale to get a much needed "recharging of batteries" in the old country --- something that clearly would not be complete without the bells and the beer. Pam is well-known in "ringing circles" throughout the world for her excellence in ringing, and particularly in the teaching of newcomers to the Art.

As for the pictures in the webpages, as currently presented they are probably more aesthetically pleasing to the layman than if they were "correctly" inserted "the right way up"!. But, as a "purist", I must admit that I would prefer to see the pictures rotated through 180 degrees, so that they are technically correct. It's a very difficult, if not impossible, job to take good pictures of bells in their "normal" mouth-down position, packed tightly in their bell frames inside a church tower. And this is mainly because the bells themselves, when in this "Down" position, are mostly hidden from view in their "pits". It's not until the bells are pulled into their "Up" position that you get to see clearly the metal bells themselves. Well, they were obviously in the "Up" position when Peter Stewart took his pictures. (See also the position of the louvres in the window in some of the pictures which, as shown, would direct rainwater INTO the tower, rather than keeping it out!). The bells will probably "look funny" if you do decide to rotate the pictures into their "correct" orientation --- but that's your call.

Regarding Hilary's question about the band that rang the first peal on the eight bells at Badsey on December 30, 1902, they are all Oxford Diocesan Guild men and part of Rev F.E. Robinson's itinerant "regulars". Furthermore, Robinson was not a member of the Worcestershire & Districts Association at that point. Hence, I think it's more than likely that this peal was rung for the ODG. You could ascertain this for certain by going to the ODG records and asking for the peal details, much of which is, of course, already given in Robinson's book "Among the Bells". Robinson was the first person to ring in 1,000 peals, and these were predominantly of Stedman Triples, most of which he conducted himself. It is said that when he rang a peal at his home tower of Drayton, Berks, after the peal he would invite the rest of band into the Vicarage for supper. But if they lost the peal attempt Robinson just put on his hat and said, "Good evening gentlemen --- No Peal, No Supper!".

As for his travelling considerable distances for his peals, yes he did, and most of it was I believe by train. However, all the details in his book are not accurate. For example, on page 369 there is the following extract, dated April 1903 :- "Having been (recently) elected a member of the Worcestershire Association, I accepted an invitation from the Rev. J. F. Hastings of Martley, and conducted my first peal of Stedman Triples in Worcestershire at Hartlebury on April 23, 1903....". We know, of course, that this is incorrect, since Robinson had by then already conducted his first peal of Stedman Triples in Worcestershire at Badsey the previous December 30.

Best Wishes, Roger Savory

Editor - 16th November 2003 - 0:00

In reply to by Roger Savory

Hilary and John Bolton of the St James Guild of Bellringers at Badsey also contacted us about the photographs: John noticed the louvres were upside down in the photos, strangely enough before he registered the position of the bells, perhaps as you say Roger they may well suit the lay person best this way but like you we would rather see them in the correct position, in this case 'the up for ringing' position. I can confirm John had just raised the bells in readiness for a wedding later in the day when Peter Stewart was around doing some photographic recording. At John's suggestion he took him up the tower to take these shots. Shows off Brian White's shade of blue to a treat. The clappers were sprayed or painted this colour on collection from his works after rebushing. Can recommend a good job well done.

Richard Phillips comments: We have had several more letters about the photographs. The photographer Peter Stewart did carefully consider the issue of which way up to display his pictures. But in view of the objections we have now inverted all the photos of bells so they are now the right way up ... or the wrong way up ... look at them and you will see what we mean.

Jenny James - 11th October 2003 - 0:00

Hi. To begin with we would like to say how wonderful your web site is. We have had great pleasure in looking at items and searching for families.

My husband is researching his CLARKE family of Bretforton and many associated families. Hannah HARWELL (HARTAL) married Thomas CLARKE on 17 Nov 1808 at Badsey. They are my husbands 4x greatgrandparents.

My husband's great grandfather Herbert David CLARKE married Ellen Eliza SOLLIS at Bretforton 09 Aug 1884. Ellen's father was given as George SOLLIS. I have checked all the SOLLIS/SAL(L)IS references on the Badsey website and have found a possible anomaly: On Marriages at Badsey 1860 - 1869 George SALIS married Mary Ann ROBINS dau of William ROBINS 15 Sep 1864 but the IGI record shows the wife of George SALIS as Sarah Ann ROBINS. Would you mind checking the original parish registers?

Until recently all the information we had is that Ellen Eliza SOLLIS married Herbert David CLARKE at Bretforton. On her marriage she gave her father's name as George and one of the witnesses was a John SOLLIS. At each census she gave her place of birth as Dorsington GLS. So far we have not been able to find any record of her birth. In the 1851 census there was Daniel and Amelia SALLIS with four sons, John, Job, Charles and George are at Lower Farm, Bretforton, so we have been working on the premise that this family are possibly related to Ellen. Until we have proof that George and Sarah Ann ROBINS are her parents it would be incorrect for us to publish the assumptions we have made until we are able to confirm the link. If we are successful I will be happy to contact you again with the SOLLIS family information.

We have not made a link with the more recent SOLLIS families although when we visited Bretforton in 2000 I recorded the cemetery records of some of the Sollis burials.

We would love to have Bretforton records added to your web site!

Regards Jenny James, Oamaru, New Zealand

Many thanks for your email pointing out the error. Yes, you are right, the marriage entry for 1864 should be SARAH ANN ROBINS rather than MARY ANN ROBINS. On checking my records, I had already picked up this error on my own database, but had forgotten to get it amended on the website which has now been done.

You may have noticed that we now have a Members' Interests page on the website. Have you considered supplying details about what you know about the Sollis family. I have put together some information about what I know about the SOLLIS family from Badsey records, and from the IGI and 1881 census. What I haven't been able to work out, though, is how the Sollises who appear in Badsey records in the latter half of the 19th century link up with the Sollises who lived in Aldington at the beginning of the 19th century. Do you have notes about the family that you could supply for the Members' Interest page? Do you know how they all link up? Please let me know if I have made any errors in my assumptions.

Joanne Davies - 18th September 2003 - 0:00

I was just looking at your survey of graves on the Badsey website. Thank you for your wonderful work and even more for putting it on the website. I am presently doing research into my family and was lucky enough to find a huge amount of information about my grandmother's family, the Malins. In your conclusion you mentioned Louisa Malin who was my great, great, great grandmother but she is not listed in the surname index, or indeed, are any of her descendants (there are Malins but we are Malin). Does that mean that they are buried elsewhere? If so, do you have any idea where? I would appreciate any information you could give me to make my records more complete.

I am presently living in the USA but I am returning for a holiday around Christmas and staying for a week with my brother who lives in Shipston-on-Stour. I plan to visit Badsey and would like to check some records and maybe visit a grave site or two.

Yours, Joanne Davies, Athens, Georgia, USA

Peter Stewart who carried out the survey of graves was able to help Joanne with further information as he had already researched the Malin family history back to the 17th century. Because there are no known graves for most of the Badsey Malin family, they do not appear in the index of individuals.

Anne Frost - 25th August 2003 - 0:00

I have been looking at this site as my maternal grandmother was Christabel Byrd from Badsey. Christabel married Dennis Creech (I think?) then, later, Tom Miller. My mother, Ruth Miller, was evacuated to Badsey, to relatives, during the war. I spent lots of time in the surrounding area in the 1960s during the school holidays - picking beans etc! My Mother's cousin's husband, Cyril Andrews, still lives in Offenham.

Anne Frost, Bristol

Anne Frost - 5th August 2003 - 0:00

I wondered if anyone could help me with information about the second world war and its effect on Badsey?

I work for the Defence of Worcestershire Project based in the County Archaeology Service. We are always on the lookout for references to WW2 sites in the county. We are particularly interested in sites that were used by the military or civil defence during WW2.

The sites we are interested in include:

  • Home Guard bases, road blocks, observation posts and training grounds;
  • Air Raid Precautions posts, first aid posts and air raid shelters (if any);
  • Any military sites or billets including searchlight sites;
  • Women's Land Army hostels - apparently there was one at Littleton but we do not know its location.

We are looking for all sites that were involved in the war effort and so this list should not be regarded as inclusive. Any information will be much appreciated as, so far, we have nothing listed for the Badsey parish. Thanks.

Colin Jones, Defence of Worcestershire Project County Archaeology Service

Barry M. Watson - 1st July 2003 - 0:00

During researching into my Watson family history, I came across the Will of John Watson, of my family (Badsey/Bretforton/Bengeworth), who was Bishop of Winchester (died 1580). In this Will, he mentioned a farm at Auton ? Being from North Yorkshire, this had me baffled, until I later read that this was in fact Aldington! I have attached a couple of pages of my transcript of the Will.

My Watson family lived in Badsey in the 1500's, and also in Bretforton and Bengeworth (in the house that is now the Evesham Hotel). I would be most interested to hear from any other Watson family reseachers or any connected families.

Yours sincerely, Barry M. Watson, Scarborough, North Yorkshire

Mike Wells - 20th June 2003 - 0:00

My wife found this site by accident while chasing family tree links.

I attended Badsey School for three years 1953 to 1955 and was Head Boy in my last year. In your feature on School Outing to Cheddar Caves and Cardiff in 1954 I am fourth from the right in the picture with mostly boys. I am afraid I do not remember the other faces, though I remember the name of David Ellison.

I remember the trip mostly for the walk through the Gorge and the Caves.

Mr Hunt was our Master, and Mr Harvey the Head. Mr Binyon always held a General Knowledge quiz each year for the top class, and I remember this as it was the only prize I won at Badsey.

We used to play all our sports down on the rec and had to walk there in crocodile once a week. No exceptions. Games in the school playground were enjoyed, marble, spinning tops, football, cricket. And if you lost the ball over the fence into the market gardeners yard next to the playground, you had to fetch it. Much against the rules. I remember doing this more than once.

The senior class performed in the Worcestershire Schools Choir concert at Blackminster school. I remember that in my year the whole choir fluffed one chorus, and stood like dummies for several seconds. We did pick up again in the next verse. Happy times.

I went on to Prince Henry's from there, and met and married my wife and we now live in Bidford, having moved to Corby and Reading beforehand.

Mike Wells, Bidford-on-Avon

Thomas A Knurek - 5th June 2003 - 0:00

My son happened upon your survey of monumental inscriptions in Badsey churchyard while tracking our surname on the internet. My name is Thomas Adam Knurek and my son Jeff was surprised to find an Adam Knurek buried in Badsey. My father came to the U.S. from Poland in 1914 (He as born in l896) He enlisted in the Army during the WWI and received his citizensship upon his discharge. He never kept up any communication with his family so we have very little information to track our relatives. We doubt that any of his direct family is still living: however, we still would like to know more about people by that name. It is not common even in the U.S. with its large Polish population arriving at the turn of the century. I would be interested to know if any Knurek's still live in Badsey and if you have any way of knowing.

Sincerely, Thomas A Knurek

Peter Stewart who conducted the churchyard survey replies: During the survey of Badsey I met many people including many Poles who still live in the area. I was also closely associated with a close friend of Adam Knurek; he was Walter Olender. Both Walter and Adam Knurek married Italian girls and then moved to the village of Badsey. Mrs Knurek still lives in the village. Walter Olender died in September 2002, and his funeral was attended by many Poles, including the Knurek family. I will try to contact this family for you ... I have spoken to the Knurek family on the phone today and sent them your message to me. They will be contacting you via e-mail. I sincerely hope that you are indeed related to the Badsey Knureks. My best wishes to you and your family.

Geoff Kite - 10th April 2003 - 0:00

My name is Geoff Kite and my 19th century ancestors come from the Worcester/Kempsey/Norton juxta Kempsey area. One of the earlier Kite ancestors is William Kite, born 19/10/1834 in Norton who married Mary Anne Melin born 1836 in Offenham or Badsey. I have been unable to find any information on her family. Another deadend is Harriet Bendall, born 1850 place unknown, who married George Kite. The earliest I have been able to get back to with any certainty is John Kite, born 1799 NjK died 1881 Kempsey, married Frances Jones, born 1805 NjK died 1871 NjK. If anyone has any information on the Kite, Melin, Bendall or Jones families that could help me, I would appreciate it.

Thanks, Geoff Kite Geoff@gkite.plus.com
(or phone 01352 741625 or write to Geoff Kite, Bryn Eithin, Cefn Bychan Road, Pantymwyn, Flintshire CH7 5EN)

Your ancestors were William and Mary A Kite who were living at Kempsey, Worcester, at the time of the 1881 census, with their seven children. There does not appear to be any close connection with the Badsey Kites.  However, here is some information about the Kites and Malins, which might help you in your researches.

There were Kites in Aldington, for a short period in the 1830s (Sarah Sophia Kite, baptised 1832, and Harriet Kite, baptised 1833, the daughters of Richard and Frances Kite). However, the name does not become prominent in the village until several decades later. The Kyte family (descendants of whom still live in the Badsey/Evesham area) moved to Badsey some time in the late 1870s. John and Ellen Kyte had been born in Childswickham about 1824 and 1831 respectively. They had at least six children, all born in Childswickham: Herbert (about 1849), Charles (about 1856), William (about 1858), John (about 1862), Elizabeth (about 1869) and Annie (about 1874). The name appears variously as KYTE or KEYTE, rather than KITE. As your ancestor, William Kite, was born in Norton in 1834, there would appear to be no connection. I see from the IGI that your ancestor was one of ten children of John and Frances Kite, and also that John and Frances, and their sons, William and George, were married at Norton. The 1881 census reveals that George's wife, Harriet, was born at Kempsey (which was where they were living in 1881). A day spent at the Family History Centre in Worcester should easily solve most of your problems.

As far as Mary Ann Melin is concerned, it is possible that she may have been related to the Malin family that moved to Badsey in the late 1850s. Thomas Malin had been born in Broadway in 1814. He married Louisa from Offenham and they lived in Offenham where most of their children were born. Around 1857, they moved to Badsey with their nine children: Thomas (born 1841), Dinah (1844), Harriet (1846), Eliza (1848), Giles (1850), John (about 1853), Betsy (about 1856), Prudence (1857) and Charles (1860). Thomas and Louisa also had a daughter, Mary Ann, born in 1843, but she did not move with them to Badsey; presumably she had a job in service.

It is possible that this Mary Ann may have been the Mary Ann Malin who married William Kite, although this would make her about 38, rather than the 46 given in the 1881 census. However, errors sometimes occurred, either on the part of the census enumerator or the transcriber. But, presumably if you have the marriage certificate for Mary Ann and William Kite, this gives an indication of age. If it appears she was born in 1836, you will need to check the Offenham records thoroughly for all occurrences of the name MALIN (or MALINS, MALING, MEALIN, MEALING, as it variously appears), and the early census returns. You say, however, that she may have been born in Badsey, but there is certainly no record of a Mary Ann Malin being baptised there. What source of information led you to believe that to be the case? If your Mary Ann Malin turns out to be the daughter of Thomas and Louisa Malin, then you have longevity in your genes! See the report on Louisa Malin's death in the Parish Magazine in 1910.

There is now an index for the 1851 Worcestershire census (which I have not used, so cannot comment on, but should be available for perusal at the Worcestershire Record Office, and possibly some other Record Offices, or you may wish to buy it yourself) which should help you to find out more about William Kite and Mary Ann Melen.

I hope this is of some use to you. Please do let us know once you have sorted out the connection, so that we can keep our information up-to-date.

Peter Stewart added this postscript in November 2003: I have just read your April letter regarding William Kite and Mary Ann Malin. Maureen Spinks, with her usual thoroughness, has given you much useful information regarding the Malin family living in Badsey, and I feel I can further add to that information. Mary Ann, the daughter of Thomas and Louisa was born in Offenham, and baptised there 23 April 1843. She is the only Mary Ann to be baptised in Offenham, and I feel that she is most likely the Mary Ann who married your William Kite. Regarding ages in the census returns - I have a James Malin who was aged 40 in the 1881 census, 43 in the 1891 census and 58 in the 1901 census. He comes from the Hampton line of Malin. I am currently researching three lines of Malin, all unconnected. Your Mary Ann's line can be traced back to a Giles Malin (born abt. 1680) of Stanway, Glos. This family were also prominent in Broadway, with connections in Offenham and then Badsey.

Shirley Baynes - 15th March 2003 - 0:00

Can anyone help me locate a house called Ladbrooke Badsey Lane? It is stated as the address of Wilson Bedenham in his will dated 2.7.1937.I am trying to put together a family tree. Wilson Bedenham was my Gt.Grandfather

Best wishes for continued success with you fabulous site. Shirley Baynes

I don't know if you live locally and know the area, but this is what I can tell you.  Most of Badsey Lane is actually in Evesham.  If you look at the map on the website, you will see Badsey Lane going off the map to the left.  The land to the west of Badsey Brook is Evesham, that to the east is Badsey.  Badsey Lane is now bisected by the bypass (off the map left).  It is likely that Ladbrooke is one of the houses to the west of the bypass.  If you live in Worcestershire, Smith's Household Almanack (found at Worcestershire Record Office and Evesham Library) may assist you.   There are two people by the name of Bedenham buried in Badsey Churchyard (William Bedenham, died 1960, and Elsie Bedenham, died 1972), but other than that, Bedenham does not appear to have been a Badsey name.

Ian Major - 20th February 2003 - 0:00

Ian Major was one of those who successfully identified a mystery photograph showing an abandoned vehicle near Aldington ford. He writes -

Nice to know that my memory is still reasonable, I am not in a position to check the location since I live 120 miles away! John and Will no doubt remember the row of elm trees next to that old vehicle. Sadly they, plus the one that stood on the western horizon above Aldington, were victims of Dutch Elm Disease.

Bits of old vehicle are scattered all over the area. Following the brook downstream from Birmingham Road bridge in Blackminster to Cuckoo Eye bridge (under the railway) you will pass three other bridges. Two are brick humpbacked bridges, and carry public rights of way. The middle one is a flat concrete slab, which was used to get cattle between the fields. If you look under this one (assuming that it has not been removed) you will see that it is a small lorry chassis slung across the brook with a concrete slab on it. This was a source of problems during flooding, since branches would get caught up in the chassis then block the water flow.

An interesting item near there which you may not have seen is at the ford. The road from the ford up to Aldington has a slight hump next to the ford. If you look at the bank below the ford on the Aldington side of the brook, you will find mouth of the tunnel that carried water from the old mill wheel. As kids we used to crawl along inside it (frightening to think of it now), though the last time that I saw it, it was nearly closed up with silt.

Ian Major

Ian Sladden - 10th February 2003 - 0:00

Judging by my surname you will probably already know what my interest in Badsey is - my family. From family photos etc, I can establish a link with Seward House. I remember seeing and having recollections of photographs from my grandfather, Francis Sladden who died recently.

The links I am trying to make are with Francis Nixon Sladden, brother of Sir Julius. Tracing this side of my family history has been very interesting. From what I can make out Francis Nixon Sladden is my great great grandfather. But this is not definite! What I am trying to find out at the moment is where he went, who he married etc.

Seward House is also of great interest me. As my grandfather only died recently, I have been unable to obtain some of the things I would like in terms of the photos he has of distant family so that I can match up what is what. Any information you can give me I would greatly appreciate. The generation of the family which I want to trace the link with takes me to Lacey Green in Buckinghamshire.

Any information or photos you may have would be greatly appreciated, in return I will supply you with other photos of Seward House as and when I receive them from my father. I hope this may be of interest to you, and if you can help in anyway I will greatly appreciate it. I look forward to hearing from you.

(The Francis name still remains in the family, my father Michael Francis Sladden, my brother Mark Francis Sladden, and mine, Ian Francis Sladden.)

Yours, Ian Sladden

I was interested to read your e-mail about your interest in the Sladden family.  I don't know if you have seen the 1881 Census Index (you should be able to view at your local library or Record Office), but I had a quick look tonight, and see that in 1881, Francis Nixon Sladden was living with his wife, Edith, and their three children, Norah (6), Thomas C (5) and Edith A (4) at Ash near Sandwich in Kent.  With a bit of detective work at The Family Records Centre in London, you should be able to make the connection between your Grandfather and Francis Nixon Sladden.  

I am sure you will definitely find some clues, also, at Worcester Record Office.  There is an absolutely enormous collection of documents - letters, postcards, diaries, photographs, etc - relating to the Sladdens.  It would certainly take you a day or two to go through it in some detail, but it looks like a real treasure trove for anyone interested in the Sladden family.

Pat Kearns - 20th January 2003 - 0:00

I have just found an article regarding letters written by school children from Badsey. I was particularly interested in one that contained reference to the Beach Jam Manufacturing factory. I am researching my family history and one name I'm researching is the name of Beach. In particular the family of T W Beach in Evesham. I would love to receive any other information from any one else who had contact with the Beach family in Evesham.  

I look forward to hearing from you,
Pat Kearns