SMITH, William (1877-1921) -Tenant Farmer then Owner of Pitchers Hill Farm
This article concerns William Smith, his two wives – Elizabeth Pope and Annie Sheward – and his 13 children born between 1901 and 1921. William Smith lived almost all his life at Pitchers Hill Farm, Wickhamford. He fathered eight children with Elizabeth and five with Annie. After his death, Annie, was mother to two more children.
Trails Orchard
How did the road get its name?
Trails Orchard is so-called because this small housing development was built on land which used to belong to the bungalow named Trails End, 36 Bretforton Road.
When did housing development begin?
In about 2018, three bungalows were built off the track leading from Bretforton Road to Newey.
Numbering system
Numbers run sequentially from 1-3, all built on the south side.
Saturday 6 November 1920 – Progress of Council Houses
PROGRESS OF HOUSING SCHEMES
At the meeting of the Rural District Council there were present: Mr J Smithin (Chairman), Mr J H Bomford (Vice-Chairman), Rev J Davenport, Messrs J Ashwin, A D Sims, H A White, H B Phillips, F Banner, A H Butler, H Taylor, R Aldington, T Bubb and C A Binyon.
HALL, Hannah (1780-1863) – her tragic death at Wickhamford in 1863
Hall Family background
Hannah Viner married Charles Hall at the Church of St John the Baptist, Wickhamford on 6th November 1802. He had been born in Mickleton, Glos., in about 1790. She was born in Wickhamford in 1780, the daughter of John and Sarah (née Finch) who had married in the parish on 3rd April 1774. This couple went on to have nine children baptised in Wickhamford between 1778 and 1796.
Knitted Bible Exhibition in St James’ Church, Badsey
The famous Knitted Bible is in Badsey! It is on display in St James’ Church until Sunday 22nd August 2021, so hurry along to view the amazing figures lovingly created. There are 34 biblical scenes entirely knitted by hand.
The Knitted Bible’s usual home is St George’s Church, Hartlepool, but it goes on tour from time to time. It should have come to Badsey last year but, because of the pandemic, had to be deferred for a year.
HILL, Colin (1943-2020) of Hill’s Nursery, Wickhamford
The discovery of a drawing by Moira Huntley of the interior (shop area) of Hill's Nursery, Pitchers Hill, Wickhamford, led to finding out more about the business and its owner. The drawing is in crayon and charcoal on coloured paper (32" x 44") and was auctioned in 2011 by John Nicholson’s Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers, with an estimate of £250 - £400.
BRADLEY, Sarah (1838-?) – First Schoolmistress of Badsey School
On 1st May 1868, a young schoolmistress named Sarah Bradley was presented with a bible on the occasion of her leaving the National School in Badsey. Nearly 150 years later, the bible came into the ownership of David Haynes. He discovered the large bible in 2012 – the boards were off and some of the pages were loose but it had the most wonderful engravings so he bought it and had it rebound. He contacted The Badsey Society to see if we could tell him more about the original owner of the bible. Read on to find out Sarah’s story.
Badsey Flower Show 1926
We have recently been the fortunate recipient of a 95-year-old Flower Show programme, courtesy of Charles Archer of Ashton under Hill. Charles is the son of Thomas William Archer (1913-1976), known as Tom, a former Vice President of Littleton and Badsey Growers who farmed at Old Manor Farm, Ashton under Hill. He is also the nephew of Fred Archer (1915-1999), author of A Lad of Evesham Vale and many other books, who farmed at Stanley Farm.