Hagley Historical and Field Society

 

Aspects of Hagley’s History based on Documents from the Parish Chest

Edited by Roy Peacock M.A., M.Phil

CONTENTS

Click on the chapter name to go to that chapter

Index of Documents, Illustrations, Figures and Maps (0.26MB)

Introduction

The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries (1.1MB)

The Early registers of Hagley__________________________1

Wills and Inventories of the Early Seventeenth Century_______ 7

The Relief of the Poor from 1781 to 1836 (2.0MB)

Forms of Relief___________________________________20

Settlement and removal_____________________________31

Apprenticeships and Indentures_______________________39

Paying for Poor Relief______________________________40

The Parish Constable and the Militia (0.6MB)

The Constables of Hagley____________________________45

The Militia______________________________________46

People and Property 1801 to 1851 (1.5MB)

The Social Structure of Hagley in the Early Nineteenth Century_53

The tithe Map and Schedule, 1838_____________________59

Hagley in 1851___________________________________66

Church and Parish in the Nineteenth Century (1.63MB)

The Lytteltons and the Parish_________________________71

Churches Old and New______________________________74

A Pew Rent Controversy_____________________________76

St.John’s Lychgate_________________________________77

Problems of a Growing Community_____________________80

Some Notable Residences____________________________83

The Schools of the Parish____________________________85

Bibliography (0.1MB)

INTRODUCTION

This publication has grown out of a course of evening classes arranged by the Extramural Studies Department of the University of Birmingham. The idea of the course was derived from the concern of the Parochial Church Council of St.John, Baptist, Hagley, for the condition of the documents in its care and especially for the older material in the Parish Chest. Although the contents were in sound condition, it was necessary to consider either improved methods of housing them or disposing of them to the local record office.

It seemed at the time that the course represented the last opportunity to study the contents of the Parish Chest on site. As a result, however, of the interest aroused by the classes, funds were raised by the parish to retain the records in approved conditions. The Parish Chest itself could no longer be used, but the contents are now housed in suitable metal cabinets

Two sessions of classes were held between 1981 and 1983 and seventeen members have contributed to its publication. The members of the group showed not only a high degree of enthusiasm in attending the weekly classes but redoubled their efforts to write up their studies as contributions to this publication. Individual contributions have become somewhat submerged in the collective effort, but responsibility for the different sets of documentary material was as follows:

Early Registers	Mrs. Bronwen Pagett
	Mr. Tom Pagett
Inventories	Mrs. Pat Dunn
Poor Law Papers	Mr. Clive Corbett
	Mrs. Jean Pritchard
	Miss Rosemary Pritchard
	Dr. LilianWright
Apprenticeship Indentures	Mr. Martin Lister
Constables’ Papers	Mrs. Mary Holder
	Mrs. Margaret Stephen
Militia Papers	Mrs. Pat Dunn
Social Stucture in Early 19th Century	Mrs. Jean Pritchard
Tithe map and Schedule	Mrs. Janet Cholmondeley
Census Material	Mr. Clive Corbett
	Dr. John Gowar
Documents relating to the Parish	Mrs. Barbara Adams
	Mr. Clive Corbett
	Mr. Robert Deeley
	Mr. Geoffrey Parkes
	Mrs. Barbara Wormington
School Papers	Mrs. Sue Partridge

As this publication is based very much on the documents in the Parish Chest, it can in no way be regarded as a history of Hagley. Nevertheless, several themes emerged as study proceeded and these themes have helped to give some coherence to this account. Some additional material was consulted, since the opportunity was taken to examine wills and inventories and the relevant Enumerators’ Books on the 1851 census.

We are grateful to the Rector, Churchwardens and Parochial Church Council of the Parish of Hagley for this opportunity to study the Parish Chest and in addition for the use of the comfortable and well-heated gallery at St.Saviour’s, West Hagley. The class and its tutor are particularly indebted to the Parish Archivist and Class Secretary, Mrs. Jean Pritchard, whose organisation and energy were a major contribution to the success of the classes.

Thanks are also given to Mr. John Stevens for help in analysing the Constables’ Accounts, to David Bicknell, former pupil of Haybridge High School, for his drawing of Hagley Station Bridge and insignia, to Dr. J.E.Lally for his original tracing of the Tithe Map, to the Hereford and Worcester Record Office for permission to reproduce the Inventories and to the Public Record Office for the page of the Enumerator’s Book

Roy Peacock, Class Tutor.

Copyright © H.H.F.S