Upper Arley

Descriptive Notes

'Upper Arley' is the usual civil spelling and 'Arley' is the usual ecclesiastical spelling. [25]
Also known as Over Arley. Ernlege in the Domesday Book.

Upper Arley covers a mainly rural area in the north of Worcestershire. The River Severn flows through the parish and quite a large area, particularly to the west of the river, forms part of the ancient Forest of Wyre. A feature of the parish is the Severn Valley Railway, running along the west bank of the River Severn.

Status

Ancient Parish [25]
Transferred in 1895 for civil purposes from Staffordshire to Worcestershire [25]

Location

O.S. Ref: SO764805
Stands on the River Severn close to the Shropshire border & 4 miles N.N.W. of Bewdley

Parish Church

St. Peter

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction

Peculiar of the Dean & Chapter of Lichfield (until 1846), Archdeaconry of Stafford & Diocese of Lichfield (1846-1905), Archdeaconry & Diocese of Worcester (1905-21), Archdeaconry of Dudley & Diocese of Worcester (1921- *) [25]

Hundred

Was South Seisdon [25], Locally in Halfshire [15] [11] [25]

Poor Law Union

Kidderminster [3] [25]

Adjoining Parishes

Highley (Shropshire); Alveley (Shropshire); Romsley (Shropshire); Kinver (Staffordshire); Wolverley;Kidderminster; Dowles (Shropshire); Kinlet (Shropshire) [1]

Parish Registers at Worcestershire Archives

[Contact details]

		Coverage	Source
Microform	Christenings	1564-1964	[5]
	Marriages	1564-1963	[5]
	Burials	1564-1964	[5]
Transcripts	General	1564-1812	[27]
Originals	Marriages	1564-1974	[12]
	Burials	1564-1977	[12]
	Banns	1754-1812	[12]

Bishops' Transcripts

Lichfield Joint Record Office

International Genealogical Index (IGI)

[19]

		Coverage
Parish Registers	Births / Christenings	1564-1812
	Marriages	1564-1812

Register Copies

ARELEY, OVER : Christenings, Marriages & Burials 1564-1812 Published : Worcestershire Parish Register Society, 1916 Author Mayo, H R (trans.) Edition Privately printed Source D: P Boyd Society of Genealogists [68]

Monumental Inscriptions and Associated Documents

Register of graves 1908-64 Worcestershire Archives [51]

War Memorials

For the names of those included on a War Memorial at Upper Arley C of E School see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/upper-arley-c-of-e-school/

For the names of those included on a WWI Memorial at St Peter's Church see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/upper-arley-st-peters-church-ww1-memorial/

For the names of those included on a WWII Memorial at St Peter's Church see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/upper-arley-st-peters-church-ww2-memorial/

For a WWII Memorial to Robert Woodward at St Peter's Church see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/memorial/upper-arley-st-peters-church-woodward-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 Stourport Library
1851-1901 at Worcestershire Archives [14]

Search Services (Fee paying) - BMSGH and Independent

Burial 1660-1812 Worcestershire Burial Index
Marriage see Worcestershire Marriage Index

Manorial Records

Worcestershire Archives [50]
Arley: Admissions, surrenders, presentments and other papers 1719-1876; Court roll 1753-1818

Parish Records on microform

At Worcestershire Archives [13]
Register of graves 1908 - ?
School document 1859

Schools Records

The following school records are original documents. Note reference number and contact staff at Worcestershire Archives:
Upper Arley C. E. School
Logbook - 1928-52 - Ref: BA 9343/1(ii)
Logbook - 1880-99 - Ref: BA 9343/1(i)

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.

Directories

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

ARELY (UPPER), a parish in the southern division of the hundred of SEISDON, county of STAFFORD, 5½ miles (N. W. by W.) from Kidderminster, containing 715 inhabitants. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the peculiar jurisdiction of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield, and in the patronage of the Earl of Mountnorris. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is situated on an eminence commanding a fine prospect. The village occupies a romantic situation near the side of the river Severn.

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