Alvechurch

Descriptive Notes

Alvechurch village was important in medieval times. The Bishop of Worcester, who was Lord of the Manor, had a palace there, and many bishops down to the sixteenth century lived there and conducted their business from the palace. ( From the website of the Parish Church of St Laurence at www.alvechurch-stlaurence.org/history.htm)

Status

Ancient Parish [25]

Location

O.S. Ref: SP026724
3 miles north of Redditch along the A441 & B4120

Rowney Green is a hamlet 2 miles S.E. Barnt Green is a hamlet, or yield, 1¾ miles N.W. Forehill (or Ferrill) is a hamlet or yield, 2½ miles north. Hopwood is a hamlet or yield, 2 miles north. Lea End (or Leyend) is a hamlet, or yield, nearly 2 miles north. Withybed Green is ½ mile west & Weatheroak 2½ miles N.E. [57]

Parish Church

St. Laurence, Jct.Station Rd. and School Lane, Alvechurch

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction

Peculiar of the Incumbent; Archdeaconry & Diocese of Worcester [1] [25]

Hundred

A detached portion of Middle Oswaldslow, locally in Upper Halfshire [11] [25]

Poor Law Union

Bromsgrove [3] [25]

Adjoining Parishes

Kings Norton, Beoley, Redditch, Bordesley/Tardebigge, Bromsgrove, Cofton Hackett [1]

Parish Registers at Worcestershire Archives

[Contact details]

    Coverage Source
Microform Christenings 1545-1968 [5]
  Marriages 1545-1968 [5]
  Burials 1545-1968 [5]
  Banns 1754-1811, 1823-65, 1920-60 [5]
Transcripts Christenings 1545-1837 [27]
  Marriages 1545-1837 [27]
  Burials 1545-1837 [27]

 

Bishops' Transcripts

Begin 1609 Worcestershire Archives [22]

International Genealogical Index (IGI)


[19]

    Coverage
Parish Registers Births / Christenings 1545-1875
  Marriages 1754-1876
Bishops' Transcripts Births / Christenings 1609-1700 (57%)
  Marriages 1545-1754 (49%)

Register Copies

ALVECHURCH (St. Lawrence) : Christenings, Marriages & Burials 1545-1642, Christenings 1643-44, 1646-1968, Marriages 1646-50, 1652-1958, Burials 1646-50, 1652-1968, banns 1754-1811, 1823-65, 1920-60 [Microfilm.] Published Salt Lake City : Genealogical Society of Utah, 2000 Acc. no. 99863 Source S: Buckley bequest. Society of Genealogists [68]


Banns 1754-1811, 1823-65, 1920-60 Society of Genealogists [68]

Monumental Inscriptions and Associated Documents

At BMSGH Shop
St.Lawrence

At BMSGH Reference Library [7]
St.Lawrence

At Worcestershire Archives [51]
St.Lawrence

At Worcestershire Archives [12]
Details of inscriptions in tombstones

At Society of Genealogists [59] :
ALVECHURCH : Monumental Inscriptions in the churchyard (incomplete): Worcestershire monumental inscriptions, vol. 6 [Typescript.] IN: Worcestershire monumental inscriptions, vol. 6 Published , 1985 Author Wheatcroft, Wyn (trans.) Source D: W Wheatcroft

ALVECHURCH (St. Lawrence) : Monumental Inscriptions [Typescript.] Published , 1991 AuthorBirmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry (trans.) Acc. no. 67220 Source D: Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry

ALVECHURCH (St. Lawrence) : Monumental Inscriptions: Worcestershire monumental inscriptions, vol. 9 [Typescript.] IN: Worcestershire monumental inscriptions, vol. 9 Published Birmingham : Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry, 1991 Author Bushell, L (trans.) AuthorFarmer, G R (trans.) Source D: Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry

War Memorials

For a war memorial to Alvechurch School now in Alvechurch Historical Society Museum see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/alvechurch-school-now-in-alvechurch-historical-society-museum//

For a war memorial to Georg Herbert Singles at Alvechurch Historical Society Museum see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/alvechurch-historical-society-museum-singles-war-memorial//

For the McNeill memorial window at St. Laurence's Church see: http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/alvechurch-st-laurence-church-mcneill-memorial-window/

For the Underwood memorial at St. Laurence's Church see: http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/alvechurch-st-laurence-church-underwood-memorial/

For the names of those included on a WW1 Memorial at St. Laurence's Church see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/alvechurch-st-laurence-church-ww1-memorial

For the names of those included on a WW2 Memorial at St. Laurence's Church see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/alvechurch-st-laurence-church-ww2-memorial/

For the names of those included on a Memorial in St. Laurence's Churchyard see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/alvechurch-st-laurence-churchyard//

For the Wiggin Memorial at the Memorial Playing Fields see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/alvechurch-wiggin-memorial-playing-fields///

For the names on a Rowney Green memorial to a Canadian Aircrew see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/rowney-green-canadian-aircrew-memorial//

Census Records

All the censuses between 1841 and 1901 are now available on a number of fee-paying (Subscription or PayAsYouGo) sites including Ancestry.co.uk, FindMyPast.co.uk, thegenealogist.co.uk andgenesreunited.co.uk. The 1911 census is available in full or in part on some of these sites. We are unable to advise on the choice of site since researchers' personal preferences will be influenced by the content and search facilities offered by each site. Some sites offer a free trial.

Access to the library edition of Ancestry.co.uk is widely available at most record offices, includingWorcestershire Archives, and some libraries. You are advised to book time on their computers before making a visit.

A free-to-view site is being developed at freecen.org.uk for the 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871 and 1891 censuses. Coverage of Worcestershire parishes is rather sparse at this time.

Census returns can usually be viewed at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' Family History Centres.

Some repositories offer census details on microform, disc or printed copy. These include:

1841-1901 at Worcestershire Archives [14]

At Society of Genealogists :
1851 Census Worcestershire, vol. 10 Bromsgrove transcript & surname index : part 1 Stoke Prior & Bromsgrove (part); part 2 Belbroughton, Clent, Hagley, Pedmore, Frankley, Hunnington, Romsley, Tutnall & Cobley, Bromsgrove (part); part 3 Tardebigg, Tutnal & Cobley, Bentley Pauncefoot, Webheath, Redditch & Alvechurch - Published Birmingham : Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry, 1993-5 - Author: Friend, A F (transcription)

1871 census Greater Birmingham (part) plus Budbrooke, Dunchurch & Leamington surname & folio index plus images of the folios for pieces RG 10/2968-2974, 3076-3086, 3088-3089, 3119, 3134-3160 & 3187-3193 [CD-ROM] - Published Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry 2004 -

Search Services (Fee paying) - BMSGH and Independent

Burial 1660-1840 Worcestershire Burial Index
Marriage see Worcestershire Marriage Index

Manorial Records

Worcestershire Archives [50]
Bailiff's Book containing presentments made at the Court Leet and Court Baron 1806-61; Account of chief rents 1790; Compotus rolls 1524-5; Court book 1707-90; Court papers 1740-1816; Court rolls 1559-1664; Description of boundary of the Manor determined by the Inclosure Commissioners 1819; Jury presentments, suit rolls, tenant lists, correspondence etc 1663-1858; Manor book 18th cent, 1781-1860; Rent rolls 1689; Rental 1695-1702; Stewards' accounts 1808-33; Surveys, valuations, manor books, rent rolls etc 17th-19th cents; Bordesley: Survey 1561

Parish Records on microform

At Worcestershire Archives [13]
Notes on the history of and events in the parish, made between 1873 & 1879
Churchwardens A/C book 1827-1909
Conveyances, concerning Alvechurch schools 1855-84
Overseers of the poor account book 1824-26, 1831-32
Poor rate book 1817 & 1825-27
Highway rate and surveyors A/C book 1831-3
Highway surveyors A/C book 1839-40, 1842-3
Church rate book 1861-2, 1863-5, 24 August 1866, 2 November 1866
Vestry & parish meeting minute book 1829-88
Malt A/C book 1828-36
A/C book & memo book, probably W.Partridge 1837
Alphabetical index to field names 1870
St Thomas day fund A/C 1881-92
National School treasurers cash book 1894-7
National schools minutes of managers meeting 1905-20
Copy of Cofton Hackett tithe apportionment - 20th cent
Register of services 1874-1917
Terrier of church property 1936
Apprenticeship indentures & related papers, settlement certificates & other poor law papers 18th & 19th cent

Schools Records

The following school records are original documents. Note reference number and contact staff atWorcestershire Archives:
Rowney Green C E School
Admission register - 1912 - 58 - Ref: BA 3761
Log books - 1884 - 1958 - Ref: BA 2315

The records of schools and other educational establishments in this parish are detailed in a handlist available at Worcestershire Archives. The list refers to original documents so you will need to note the reference number and contact staff.

Other Sources

ALVECHURCH : churchwardens' accounts 1827-1909, conveyances for schools 1855-84, overseers' accounts 1824-26, 1831-32, poor rate book 1817, 1825-27, apprenticeships, settlements & other 18th - 19th ce ALVECHURCH : churchwardens' accounts 1827-1909, conveyances for schools 1855-84, overseers' accounts 1824-26, 1831-32, poor rate book 1817, 1825-27, apprenticeships, settlements & other 18th - 19th century poor law papers, accounts 1828-46, index to field names c.1870, St. Thomas Day accounts 1881-92, national school accounts 1894-97 & minutes 1905-20, Cofton Hackett 20th century tithe apportionment [Microfilm.] Published Salt Lake City : Genealogical Society of Utah, 2000 Source S: Buckley bequest. Society of Genealogists

ALVECHURCH : register of services 1874-1917, terrier of church property 1936, highway rate & surveyor's books 1815, 1831-33, 1839-40, 1842-43, church rate books 1861-66, vestry & parish minute book 18 ALVECHURCH : register of services 1874-1917, terrier of church property 1936, highway rate & surveyor's books 1815, 1831-33, 1839-40, 1842-43, church rate books 1861-66, vestry & parish minute book 1829-88 [Microfilm.] Published Salt Lake City : Genealogical Society of Utah, 2000 Acc. no. 99863b Source S: Buckley bequest. Society of Genealogists

Directories

An extract from the Topographical Dictionary of England 1831 by Samuel Lewis:

ALVECHURCH, a parish, forming a detached portion of the middle division of the hundred of OSWALDSLOW, locally in the upper division of the hundred of Halfshire, county of WORCESTER, 4½ miles (B. N. E.) from Bromsgrove, containing 1413 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in. the peculiar jurisdiction of the Incumbent, rated in the king's books at £24. 16. 8., and in the patronage of the Bishop of Worcester. The church, dedicated to St. Lawrence, has Norman pillars; but the chancel displays the early English style, and the tower is more modern. The Bishops of Worcester had a palace here so early as the reign of Henry II, which, after the sale of the manor by the parliament, in 1648, was suffered to fall to decay, and has now entirely disappeared. A hospital for nine persons was incorporated by Queen Elizabeth. The Birmingham and Worcester canal runs through the parish. Fairs for cattle and sheep are held on the 22nd of April and the 10th of August. In 1742, Dr. Worth bequeathed £138. 2. 2., now producing £16 per annum, for the establishment of a free school. The Roman Iknieldstreet passed through Alvechurch, in its course from Alcester towards Lichfield. The learned Dr. Hickes, author of the Thesaurus Septentrionalium Linguarum, held the rectory of this parish.

Last Updated: 31/10/2016