Bromsgrove (with the villages of Stoke Prior, Upton Warren, Tardebigg) Pigots Directory 1842

Bromsgrove, a market town in the parish of its name, in the upper division of the hundred of Halfshire, in 116 miles N. W. from London, 13 N.E. by N. from Worcester, the like distance S.W. from Birmingham, and 13 N.W. from Alcester; cheerfully seated on the small river Spadesbourn, and about a mile and a half to the east of the line of the Birmingham and Gloucester railway. This place, anciently called Bremesgrave, was a royal demesne at the time of the Conquest, and continued to be so till the reign of Henry III. Before the opening of the railway above-noticed, it was a place of considerable thoroughfare, upon the Great Western road. An extensive manufactory of silk buttons, furnishes employment to many hands, particularly children; and the making of nails, and malt are branches of some consequence. In the reign of Edward I Bromsgrove returned two members to parliament, but it has for a long period ceased to enjoy such privilege. The town is within the jurisdiction of the county magistrates: a bailiff and other offices are annually appointed at the courts-leet of the lords of the manor, Earl Amherst and John Drummond, Esq.; a court baron is held every three weeks for the recovery of debts under 40s; and another is established under a recent act, wherein debts can be sued for to the amount of £15. – this latter court is holden at the Town Hall every two months.

The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is a very ancient and beautiful structure, combining portions in the Norman style, and others in the early decorated and later styles of English architecture, of which last, the tower and spire, and most of the exterior of the church, are fine specimens. The tower is surmounted by a lofty, well-proportioned spire; and the edifice is approached one way by a flight of sixty-two steps: the interior contains many curious and interesting monuments. The church-yard is large, and from it may be contemplated most extensive and pleasing prospects, over a fertile country, varied by hill and dale, and irrigated by clear streams of water. The living is a vicarage, with the perpetual curacy of King’s Norton annexed, in the patronage of the dean and chapter. There are places of worship for Baptists, independents, and Wesleyan Methodists. The principal charities comprise a free grammar school, founded in the reign of Edward IV, with scholarships and fellowships to Worcester College, Oxford; and some endowed almshouses. The neighbourhood of Bromsgrove is adorned with several fine seats, amongst which are Hewell Grange, belonging to the Hon. Robt. Henry Clive, M.P.; and the elegant residence of the Right Hon. and Rev. Lord Aston, at Tardebigg. The market is held on Tuesday; and the fairs on the 24th of June for horses, 1st October for horses, cattle, &c.; and a statute meeting for hiring servants on the 24th September; besides which there are toll free markets for fat cattle, on the last Tuesday in the months of February, March, April, May and August. The parish of Bromsgrove contained, in 1831, 8,612 inhabitants, and, in 1841, 9672.

Stoke Prior is a parish, in the hundred of Oswaldslow; the village being situate about two miles south from Bromsgrove. Some extensive salt, soap, and vitriol works are in this parish. The church is dedicated to St. Michael; the living is a vicarage, in the same patronage as that of Bromsgrove. The parish contained, in 1831, 1,100 inhabitants, and, in 1841, 1,534.

Upton-Warren is a parish, in the hundred of Halfshire; the village is situated on the main road leading to Bromsgrove and Droitwich, two miles and a half S.S.W. from the former, and three miles and a half N.N.E. from the latter town. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, was some years since partly rebuilt, and the interior is neatly fitted up: the living is a rectory, in the patronage of the Earl of Shrewsbury. Population about 500.

Tardebigg is a parish, partly in the hundred of Halfshire, and partly in the hundred of Barlichway, county of Warwick: the village, which is three miles E.S.E. from Bromsgrove, is pleasantly situated upon the banks of the Worcester and Birmingham canal. The parish church of St. Bartholomew, is a neat stone structure, and being on an eminence, is an object from the road prominent and pleasing. The living is a vicarage, in the incumbency of the Hon. and Rev. Lord Aston. The parish (which included the hamlets of Bentley, Redditch, and Webheath Yields) contained, at the last census, (1841) 4,344 inhabitants.

POST OFFICE, High-street, BROMSGROVE, Thomas Collis, Post Master – Letters from LONDON arrive every morning (Monday excepted) at twenty minutes past four, and are despatched every night (Saturday excepted) at half-past eight. – Letters from the North arrive every morning at five minutes before two, and are despatched every night at half-past eight. – Letters from the South arrive every night at half past nine, and are despatched every morning at twenty-five minutes before three. – Letters from the West arrive every night at twenty minutes past nine and half-past eleven, and are despatched every morning at ten minutes past three and afternoon at half-past twelve.
The letter box closes one hour before the departure of the London and North mail, and at ten at night for the South and West of England mails.

NOBILITY, GENTRY AND CLERGY

Adams John, Esq. Kidderminster Road
Ashwell Rev. Thomas, High St
Aston Right Honourable and Rev. Lord, Tardebigg
Campbell Rev. Henry, Grafton
Clive Hon. Robert Henry, M.P. Hewell
Collett Benjamin, Esq. Grafton house
Ellins George, Esq. Rigby hall
Fletcher George, Esq. High St
Hooper Rev. George, Upton Warren
Horton Mrs. Catherine, St. John St
Jacob Rev.Geo. Andrew, Worcester St
Moore Miss Ann, Worcester St
Moore Rev.Thomas B.G. St. John St
Rufford George, Esq. Grafton manor
Sanders Mrs. Mary, High St
Taylor Mr. Benjamin, Strand

ACADEMIES & SCHOOLS.

Not otherwise c described are Day Schools.
Allen James, Worcester St
INFANTS’ SCHOOL, Close – Joseph Smith, master; Eliza Smith, mistress Johnson the Misses (boarding and day) Strand
KING EDWARD SIXTH’s GRAMMAR SCHOOL, Worcester street – G. A. Jacob, master
Knight Hannah (boarding and day) High St
Lea Measham, High St
Price Mary, Hanover St
Rose William, Hanover St
Scroxton Mary & Jane, St. John St
Simpson Joseph (brdg.) Worcester St

ATTORNEYS

Doogood William, High St
Robeson Messrs. High St
Taylor Benjamin, jun. Strand
Vernon & Minshall, St. John St

AUCTIONEERS

Fetherstone William, High St
Gabb George Green, High St
Johnson William, High St
Ward James, High St

BAKERS & FLOUR DEALERS

Baylis William, Worcester St
Brace William, High St
Cooke Thos. (&confectioner) High St
Fawke John, St. John St
Harrison William, Worcester St
Jew Joseph, Worcester St
Marriss George, High St
Rofe Robert, Strand
Tench James, High St
Webster George, High St

BANKERS

Rufford, Biggs & Co. High St – (draw on Spooner, Attwoods’ & Co. London)
STOURBRIDGE & KIDDERMINSTER BANKING CO. (branch of – draw on Smith, Payne and Smiths London)
SAVINGS’ BANK, High St – Olive Williams, secretary

BLACKSMITHS & FARRIERS

Butler Ralph, Bourn heath
Croft Samuel, Worcester St
Harbach Thomas, Worcester St
Hartle William, High St
Ingram, Win. (jobbing) Rotten row
Ledbury William, Worcester St
Morris William, High St
Sutton Solomon, Bedlam

BOOKSELLERS, STATIONERS AND PRINTERS

Maund Benjamin, High St
Scroxton John, High St

BOOT & SHOE MAKERS

Burton William, High St
Butler James, St. John St
Clements George, Worcester St
Evans John, Worcester St
Hughes George, Worcester St
Lacey Mary Ann (shoe warehouse)
High street Morris William, Worcester St
Osborne Thomas, High St
Perkins Thomas High St
Tandy J ames High St
Wall Joseph, Pleck
Wall William, St. John St
Webb Elizabeth, High St
Wild William, Strand

BRAZIERS AND TINMEN

Brooke Charles, High St
Morris Edward, High St
Smith Joseph, Sidemore
Watton Edward, Worcester St
Witheford Clement, High St

BRICKLAYERS & PLASTERERS

Buggins William, Worcester St
Hill William, Hanover St
Pardoe William, Strand

BUTCHERS

Beresford James, Rotten row
Bott John, Worcester. St
Bott Peter Worcester St
Brasier Benjamin, Worcester St
Bullingham Henry, High St
Davenport William, High St
Dutton William, Worcester St
Haines Benjamin, High St
Knight Francis, Stroud
Knight Henry, Worcester St
Leek Richard, High St
Manly Joseph, Worcester St
Martin Francis, High St
Parsonage John, St. John St
Troth Benjamin (pork.) High St
Wall William, High St
Watton William, High St
Wells John, Worcester St

CARPENTERS & JOINERS

Barley Thomas, Catshill
Bott Thomas, Strand
Buggins William. (builder) Worcester St
Edwards Thomas High St
Gabb George Green (builder) High St
King William, Worcester St
Moss James, Burton’s yard
Skidmore James, High St
Spilsbury Richd. (builder) Worcester St
Woodhouse William (builder) Strand
Wright Robert, High St

CHAIR MAKERS

Blent Charles, High St
Wildsmith William, Worcester St

CHINA, GLASS &c. DEALERS

Fletcher William, St. John St
Llewellyn William, Worcester St
Tench James, High St

CHYMISTS & DRUGGISTS

Cullwick John, Worcester St
Greening William & Joseph, High St
Haines John Jenkins, High St
Maund Benjamin & Co. Nigh St
Wood John, High St

CLOTHES DEALERS

Banner Thomas, Rotten row
Barrett Thomas, Worcester St
Day George, High St
Dowler William, St. John St
Prosser Henry, Worcester St
Rea William, Worcester St

COOPERS

Fetherstone William Hope, High St
Knott Henry, Worcester St
Nokes Moses, Worcester St
Tudor Richard, High St

CORN & FLOUR DEALERS

Godfrey Isaiah Whitford
Martin Thomas & John, Charford
Milton Joseph, High St
Wall Francis, High St

CURRIERS

Crane Elizth. & Joshua Bell, High St
Tandy Benjamin Roe, Strand

FIRE, &c. OFFICE AGENTS

BIRMINGHAM, Jno. Holyoake, High St
BIRMINGHAM DISTRICT, Edward Perkins, High St
EXETER and WEST or ENGLAND, George Dipple, High St
NORWICH UNION, Benjamin Maund, High St
PHOENIX, Benjn. Roe Tandy, Stroud
ROYAL EXCHANGE, Samuel Hedges, High street
SUN, William Ward, High St

FRUITERERS AND GREEN GROCERS

Button William, High St
Casewell John, Worcester St
Woodward William, St. John St

GROCERS & TEA DEALERS

(See also Shopkeepers, &c.)
Amiss James, High St
Amphlett Joseph, High St
Brooke William, High St
Caswell Samuel, Worcester St
Cullwick John, Worcester St
Daniel John (& provision) High St
Frayne William Richard (&druggist) High street
Greening Wm. &Joseph (&druggists) High St
Penn E. & P. High St
Wilson Thomas, High St

HAIR DRESSERS

Cox Samuel, High St
Houghton Robert, Worcester St
Lawer Thomas, High St
Layton James, Worcester St
Sealey Charles, High St
Wickward William, Worcester St

HAT MANUFACTURERS

Garfield John, Worcester St
Nowell Richard, Worcester St

INNS & POSTING HOUSES

Golden Cross & Royal Hotel, Chas. Smith, High street
Golden Lion (and excise office) Edward Russell, Worcester St
Star and Garter, Mary Elizabeth Kerby, High street

IRONMONGERS

Dipple George , High St
Morris Edward, High St
Perkins Edward, High St

LINEN & WOOLLEN DRAPRS

Cordell John, High St
Curtler. Henry, High St
Holyoake John, High St
Thomas Thomas Davies, High St
Weaver William, High St

MALTSTERS

Bolding Thomas, Worcester St
Gilbert Richard, High St
Greening William & Joseph, High. St
Griffin John, High St
Haynes Thomas, High St
Llewellyn William, Worcester St
Parkes William, Catshill
Perks Benjamin, Worcester St
Russon Joseph, Worcester St
Saunders Thomas, Strand
Ward James, High St
Watton William, High St

MILLERS

Harris William, Stoke Prior
Ludditt John, Strand mill
Milton Joseph, Mill
Williams Richard, Lickey’s End

MILLINERS & DRESS MAKRS

Charles Elizabeth, Hanover St
Downes Ann, High St
Kings Mary Ann, High St
Millwood Louisa, High St
Read Caroline & Eliza, High St
Skidmore Phoebe, High St
Smith Sarah, High St
Steward Ann, St. John St
Wilde Hannah, High St
Wright Ann, Ednall lane
Wright M Mary & Rebecca, Ednall Lane
Yates Charlotte, Worcester St

NAIL MANUFACTURERS

Chidley Geo. & Thos. Richd. High St
Ellins Henry, High St
Green James, High St
Johnson Benjamin, High St
JugginsThomas, High St
Miles Thomas, High St
Parry James, Worcester St
Perkins Francis, High St
Roberts John, Catshill
Scroxton & Brooke,St. John St
Stanley Jabez, High St
Ward Jeffrey, Catshill

PAINTERS PLUMBERS AND GLAZIERS

Brown William, High St
Clarkson James, Worcester St
Dalton Joshua Strand
Rogers John , High St
Trueman John, Strand
Witherord William, High St

PATTEN MAKERS

Harbige Henry (& clog) Worcester St
Wild William, Strand

PAWNBROKERS

Collis Thomas, High St
Tipper Mary, Worcester St

ROPE & TWINE MAKERS

Duffill John, High St
Ledbury Edward, Mill lane

SADDLERS

Fisher Thomas, High St
Hughes John, Worcester St
Palmer Thomas, High St
Sealey James, High St

SALT PROPRIETORS.

BRITISH ALKALI Co. (late Fardon, Gossage & Co – and soap and soda manufacturers) Stoke Prior
IMPERIAL SALT& ALKALI COMPANY, Stoke Prior

SHOPKEEPERS & DEALERS IN GROCERIES & SUNDRIES

Barker William, Worcester St
Dalton Joshua, Strand
Duffill Sarah, Strand
Fletcher William, St John St
Griffin John, High St
Heague James, Worcester St
Lamb Sarah, Hanover St
Laughton Joseph, High St
Ledbury William, Worcester St
Leek Isaac, High St
Llewellyn William, Worcester St
Parry James, Worcester St
Ramsdell William, New Buildings
Roelend William, Strand (transcriber’s note – Roelend [sic] should possibly be Roeland)
Rofe Robert, Strand
Tench Mark, Holy Lane
Tench Mary, High St
Watts George, High St
Willis Samuel, Hanover St
Wilson Thomas, High St
Witheford Benjamin, Worcester St

STRAW HAT MAKERS

Dalton, Mary Ann, High St
Frayne Louisa, High St
Hawkes Ann, Strand
Millwood Louisa, High St
Smith Ann, Rotten Row

SURGEONS

Fletcher Thomas Swindell, High St
Haines Richard Jenkins, High St
Horton George, High St
Horton John, High St

TAILORS

Barrett Henry, Worcester St
Diment John, Worcester St
Halfpenny John, Worcester St
Hall Thomas, High St
Houghton Edward (& draper) High St
Lacy Joseph, High St
Manning Job, Worcester St
Mathews John, St John St
Pritchet Richard, High St
Rainbow Oliver, Worcester St
Redding John, Strand
Redding Joseph, High St
Robinson Samuel, Worcester St
Weaver William, High St
Wilde John, High St

TALLOW CHANDLERS

Caswell Samuel, Worcester St
Greening William & Joseph, High St

TAVERNS & PUBLIC HOUSES

Bell, Robert Harper, High St
Bird-in-Hand, Charles Webb, High St
Black Cross, John Young, Worcester St
Blackmore Arms, William Flowers, Birmingham Road
Crabb Mill, Richard Hunt, Birmingham Road
Crown, Nicholas Hill, Catshill
Dolphin, Richard Gilbert, Hill St
George, William Jenks, High St
Green Dragon, Daniel Whitehouse, High St
Hop Pole, William Ackrill, High St
King’s Head, Charles Tidmarsh, High St
Mitre, Charles Wright, Rotten Row
Plymouth Arms, John Durham, Tardebigg
Red Lion, Sarah Penn, Worcester St
Roebuck, James Ward, High St
Sampson, Joseph Witheford, Worcester St
Shoulder of Mutton, Thomas Guest, St John St
White Horse, Sarah Evans, Worcester St

RETAILERS OF BEER

Bagnall James, Hanover St
Barley Thomas, Catshill
Beard David, Kidderminster Road
Bolding Thomas, Worcester St
Brasier Benjamin, Holy Lane
Cole William, High St
Court William, Worcester St
Cullwick William, Worcester St
Dalton Henry, High St
Dolphin Francis, Hundred House
Higgs James, Worcester St
Juggins William, Birmingham Road
Lacy Joseph, High St
Lamb Sarah., Hanover St
Leek Isaac, High St
Miles Thomas, High St
Pardoe William, Strand
Parker Thomas, Strand
Perks Benjamin, Worcester
Perks John, High St

TRUSS MAKERS – ELASTIC STEEL

Miles Thomas, High St
Parker William, Putcheon

WATCH & CLOCK MAKERS

Court Mary, High St
Dutton Frederick N. Worcester St
Rose Joseph, Worcester St

WHEELWRIGHTS

Bourn Thomas, Ednall lane
Cole William High St
Croft Samuel, Worcester St
Hill Henry, New buildings

Miscellaneous

Adams John, distributer of stamps, Kidderminster road
Austin William, confectioner, High St
Butler James, sheriffs officer, St. John St
Cooper Sarah, stay maker, Worcester St
Crump William, seedsman, Worcester St
Frayne William, hosier, High St
GAS WORKS, Worcester St – Thos. Collis, secretary
Grove Benjamin. gardener, &c. High St
Grove Sarah, seed dealer, High St
Haines Thomas, linen, &c. bleachers, and manufacturers, High St
Harbige Henry, turner, Worcester St
Jakeman Joseph, tanner, High St
Johnson Daniel, brush maker, High St
Johnson William, cork cutter, and registrar of births and deaths, High St
Jones Thomas, supervisor, High St
King Jas. superintendent of police High St
King Mary, smock frock maker, High St
Langley William, machine maker and millwright, Worcester St
M’Carthy James, silk dyer, and umbrella and parasol maker, Strand
Male Edward, gunsmith, Rock Hill
Nicholls Robert, glover and breeches maker, High Street
Pratt William, stone mason, High. St
Price Edward, veterinary surgeon, High St
Rose Joseph, stone cutter, St. John St
Sanders Benjamin & Sons, silk button manufacturers. Sidemore
Scroxton Jno. sub-distributer of-stamps, St John St
Simms James, organist, Worcester St
Tranter Jas. brick & tile maker, Catshill
UNION WORKHOUSE, William Owen, governor
Wagstaff Solomon, basket maker, Hanover St
Wall Fanny, seed merchant, High St
Webb Charles, land surveyor, High St
White John, fellmonger, Worcester St
Wildsmith Wm. furniture brokr. Worcester St
Williams Oliver, accountant, High St

COACHES

To BIRMINGHAM, the True Blue (from Worcester) calls at the Bell, every forenoon
(Sunday excepted) at ten – the Taglioni, calls at the Star and Garter, every afternoon
(Sunday excepted) at half-past four – and an Omnibus, from John Atkins’, Hanover Street, every Mon. & Thurs. morning at half-past 7.
To WORCESTER, the Taglioni (from Birmingham) calls at the Star & Garter, every
forenoon (Sunday excepted) at half-past eleven – and the True Blue (from Birmingham)
calls at the Bell, every evening (Sun. excepted) at six.

CONVEYANCE BY RAILWAY

ON THE BIRMINGHAM & GLOUCESTER LINE.STATION, ONE MILE AND A HALF WEST OF BROMSGROVE, FROM WHENCE PASSENGERSMAY BE CONVEYED TO ALMOST ANY PART OF ENGLAND.
A Car, to and from the Royal Hotel and the Railway Station, every hour, from seven in the morning until nine at night.
Other particulars, relating to this and the various Railway lines, are furnished by the Railway Tables.

CARRIERS

To BIRMINGHAM (from whence goods are forwarded to all parts of the kingdom) William Ashmore, from his warehouse, every day; John Atkins, from his house, Hanover Street, every Monday, Thursday and Saturday-Thomas Allbutt, from Worcester street, & John Weaver from the Strand, every Monday and Thursday
To DROITWICH, Thos. Allbutt, from Worcester Street, and John Weaver, from the Strand, ever Wednesday and Saturday, and John Atkins, from his house, Hanover Street, every Wed.
To KIDDERMINSTER, John Holmes from his house, Hanover St, Thursday.
To WORCESTER, John & Wm. Ashmore, every day – Thomas Allbutt, from Worcester Street, every Wednesday & Sat – John Weaver, from the Strand, and John Holmes and John Atkins, from their houses, Hanover St, every Wed.

Source: Pigot & Co.’s Royal National and Commercial Directory and Topography of the Counties of Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Rutlandshire, Northamptonshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire 1841/1842