Pershore Worcestershire Family History Guide
Pershore is a market town, partly in the parish of St. Andrew and partly in that of Holy Cross, in the upper division of Pershore hundred; 102 miles N.W. by W. from London, 9 S.E. from Worcester, 10 N. by E. from Tewkesbury. The town is seated on the western bank of the Avon, here navigable, and which is crossed by a bridge on the south.
The name of the place has been variously spelt Persore, Pearshore, and, lastly, that which it now retains, ‘Pershore:’ the appellation is supposed by Camden, to be derived from Periscoran, in allusion to the numerous pear trees which at one time grew in its vicinity. The town, which consists chiefly of one street, of considerable length, and well paved, is remarkable for its neatness.
Source: Slater’s Directory (Worcestershire Section) 1850
Market, Tuesday.
Fairs, Tuesday in Easter-week, June 26th, and the last Tuesday in October, chiefly for horses.
Industry: Woolstapling and agricultural implements, stockings.
Parish churches: Pershore St Andrew and Pershore Holy Cross
Parish registers begin: Pershore St Andrew with Pershore Holy Cross, 1641; Pershore Holy Cross, 1540
The parishes of St Andrew and Holy Cross also include: Pensham, Walcot cum Membris, Wadborough and Drakes Broughton.
Chapelries: Bricklehampton and Pinvin
Nonconformists include: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Particular Baptist, Primitive Methodist, Society of Friends/Quaker, and Wesleyan Methodist.
Table of Contents
Adjacent Parishes
- Kempsey
- Norton juxta Kempsey
- Pinvin
- Besford
- Wick
- Peopleton
- Fladbury
- Stoulton
- Croome D’Abitot
- Pirton
- Great Comberton
- Birlingham
Parish History
Pershore
Bartholomew’s Gazetteer Of The British Isles 1904
Pershore. market town with ry. sta., G. W. R. , Worcestershire, on river Avon, 8miles SE. of Worcester; P.O., T.O. Market day, Tuesday. Pershore is a well built town, and occupies a beautiful situation amidst picturesque scenery.
It dates from a remote period – a monastery was founded here in 689. Its principal feature is the church of Holy Cross, which consists of the transept and chancel of the old abbey. Agricultural implement making is an industry. Large quantities of fruit and vegetables are cultivated in the neighbourhood for Birmingham and other towns. In addition to the weekly market, P. has several fairs for cattle, horses, sheep, &c.
Pershore St. Andrew and Pershore Holy Cross, 2 pars., Worcestershire (containing Pershore town) – St. Andrew, 1543 ac, pop. 858; Holy Cross, 4594 ac.. pop. 2490.
Source: John Bartholomew’s Gazetteer of the British Isles 1904
Beeton’s British Gazetteer 1870
Pershore, a market and post town of England, in Worcestershire, on the Avon, 9 miles S. E. from Worcester. It was once famed for its abbey, of which there are now but few vestiges. It contains two churches, one of which, known by the name of the Holy Cross, is part of a church that was attached to an old abbey of that name. This building was restored and beautified in 1864. Manf. Woolstapling and agricultural implements. Mar. D. Tues. Pop. 2905. It is a telegraph station, and a station on the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton branch of the Great Western Railway.
Source: Beeton’s British Gazetteer 1870. Ward, Lock & Tyler, Paternoster Row, London
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870
PERSHORE, a town, two parishes, a sub-district, a district, and a hundred, in Worcestershire.
The town stands in the valley of Evesham, on the river Avon, 1½ mile S of the West Midland railway, and 9 SW by W of Worcester; was anciently called Persere, Pearsore, and Perscora; is alleged, by some, to have got its name from the plentifulness of its orchards; owed its origin to the founding of a monastery at it, by Oswald, nephew of King Ethelred, in 689; suffered devastation by fire, along with its monastery, in 1002, 1223, and 1288; sent members to parliament in the time of Edward I.; went thence into decline, and did not revive till the middle of last century.
It is now a seat of petty sessions and county courts, and a polling-place; consists of neat, clean, wide, well-paved streets; and has a head post-office, a railway station, two banking offices, two chief inns, a bridge, a police station erected in 1865, two churches, a Baptist chapel, national and British schools, a workhouse, and charities £130.
Holy Cross church was the church of a Benedictine abbey, built in the 12th and 13th centuries on the site of the ancient monastery; measured originally 250 feet from E to W, and 120 along the transepts; consists now of only the choir, the S transept, a chapel, and the tower, with a modern chancel; is variously Norman, early English, and decorated; was well restored in 1863-5, under the direction of Mr. Scott; and contains an altar-tomb of an abbot and an effigies of a knight.
St. Andrew’s church is an old building, with a low tower. The workhouse was erected in 1836, at a cost of £3,000; and has accommodation for 200 inmates. A weekly market is held on Tuesday; a market for fat stock is held four times a year; fairs for cattle and horses are held on Easter Tuesday, and on 26 and 27 June; hiring fairs are held on the Wednesday before and the Wednesday after 11 Oct.; and wool-stapling, engineering, and machine-making are carried on. The town comprises parts of both parishes. Pop. in 1851, 2,717; in 1861, 2,905. Houses, 615.
The parishes are Holy Cross and St. Andrew. Holy Cross parish includes the hamlets of Walcot-cum-Membris and Wadborough, and comprises 2,950 acres. Real property, £5,012; of which £80 are in gas-works. Pop. in 1851, 2,528; in 1861, 2,578. Houses, 545.
St. Andrew parish includes the chapelries of Pinvin, Defford, Besford, Bricklehampton, and Wick, and the hamlet of Pensham; and comprises 9,960 acres. Real property, £18,854. Pop. in 1851, 2,358; in 1861, 2,483. Houses, 525. The livings are in the diocese of Worcester; and they comprise, first, the vicarage of P. St. Andrew, with the p. curacies of P. Holy Cross, Pinvin, Bricklehampton, and Broughton, second, the vicarage of Defford-with-Besford, and third, the p. curacy of Wick. Value of P. St. Andrew., £500. Patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Westminster.
The vicarage of Defford-with-Besford was formerly a double p. curacy, annexed to P. St. Andrew; but is now a separate charge. Value, not reported. Patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. Wick is separately noticed.
The sub-district contains the parishes of P. Holy Cross, Pirton, Stoulton, and Norton-by-Kempsey, about half of the parish of P. St. Andrew, the chapelry of Whittington, and part of the parish of Fladbury. Acres, 17,781. Pop., 6,507. Houses, 1,392.
The district comprehends also the sub-district of Eckington, containing the chapelries of Defford, Besford, Bricklehampton, and Wick, and the parishes of Eckington, Elmley-Castle, Cropthorne, Strensham, Birlingham, Great Comberton, and Little Comberton; and the sub-district of Upton-Snodsbury, containing the parishes of Upton-Snodsbury, Grafton-Flyford, Naunton-Beauchamp, North Piddle, Flyford-Flavel, Dormston, Kington, Abberton, Bishampton, Peopleton, White-Ladies-Aston, Churchill, Broughton-Hackett, Bredicot, and Spetchley, and the chapelry of Throckmorton.
Acres of the district, 52,269. Poor-rates in 1863, £6,788. Pop. in 1851, 13,553; in 1861, 13,865. Houses, 2,993. Marriages in 1863, 95; births, 452, of which 35 were illegitimate; deaths, 270, of which 94 were at ages under 5 years, and 13 at ages above 85. Marriages in the ten years 1851-60, 886; births, 4,140; deaths, 2,398.
The places of worship, in 1851, were 38 of the Church of England, with 7,429 sittings; 7 of Baptists, with 1,088 s.: 4 of Wesleyans, with 724 s.; 1 of Primitive Methodists, with 100 s.; and 1 of Roman Catholics, with 135 s.
The schools were 14 public day-schools, with 947 scholars; 33 private day-schools, with 441 s.; and 31 Sunday schools, with 1,785s.
The hundred is much more extensive than the district; and is cut into two divisions, lower and upper. The lower div. lies beyond the district; and contains fifteen parishes and part of another. Acres, 51,297 Pop. in 1851, 18,102. Houses, 3,602. The upper div. is mainly identical with the district, but less extensive. Acres, 41,328. Pop. in 1851, 11,115. Houses, 2,349. Pop. of the whole in 1861, 33,695. Houses, 6, 782.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
A Topographical Dictionary of England 1848
PERSHORE, a market-town, and the head of a union, partly in the parish of St. Andrew, and partly in that of Holy Cross, Upper division of the hundred of Pershore, Pershore and E. divisions of the county of Worcester, 9 miles (S. E.) from Worcester, and 102 (N. W. by W.) from London; containing 2813 inhabitants.
The name of this place, variously spelt Persore, Pearshore, and Pershore, is thought by Camden to be derived from Periscoran, in allusion to the numerous peartrees which grew in the vicinity.
A convent was founded here, according to William of Malmesbury, by Egelward, Duke of Dorset, or, as others suppose, by Oswald, nephew of Ethelred, King of Mercia, about 689, for secular clerks. It was remodelled by Edgar, as a monastery for Benedictine monks, about 984, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, St. Peter, and St. Paul, and afterwards to Edburga, eighth daughter of Edward the Elder. The buildings suffered repeatedly from fire, especially in 1287, when a considerable part of the town was also destroyed: at the Dissolution, the revenue was valued at £666. 13. The remains are the church of the Holy Cross, and the Abbey house, but the latter has undergone such alterations that every vestige of its ancient character is lost.
The town is pleasantly situated on the lower road from Worcester to London, and on the western bank of the Avon, which is here navigable, and is crossed by a bridge on the south. The principal street is about three-quarters of a mile in length; the greater part is well paved, and the houses are of respectable appearance. In 1845 an act was passed for a railway from Oxford, by Pershore, to Wolverhampton. The market is on Tuesday; and fairs are held on Easter-Tuesday, June 26th (called the Great Fair), the first Monday in August, and the Tuesday before November 1st.
The town returned two burgesses to parliament in the reign of Edward I. The powers of the county debt-court of Pershore, established in 1847, extend over the registration-district of Pershore. As to civil jurisdiction the parishes of St. Andrew and Holy Cross are distinct: that of St. Andrew embraces several chapelries, and comprises 6537 acres, of which about 700 are in the town portion; that of Holy Cross, including also some hamlets, contains 4377 acres.
The living of St. Andrew’s is a discharged vicarage, with the curacy of Besford annexed, valued in the king’s books at £8. 19. 2.; net income, £588; patrons and appropriators, the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. The church consists of a choir and south transept, the remains of a noble cruciform edifice; and is partly Norman, but principally in the early English style. The church of the Holy Cross is later English; it was enlarged and beautified in 1846: the living is held as a curacy, with the vicarage of St. Andrew’s. There is a place of worship for Baptists.
The poor-law union of Pershore comprises forty parishes or places, and contains a population of 13,382.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis 1848
A Topographical Dictionary Of Great Britain And Ireland 1833
Pershore, co. Worcester.
London 106 m. NW b W. Pop. of St. Andrew 1963. Of Holy Cross 1929. M. D. Tues. Fairs, Easter-Tues.; June 26; and last Tues. in Oct.; for cattle and horses.
A market-town in the hundred of the same name, containing the parishes of St. Andrew and Holy Cross, advantageously and beautifully situated on the western bank of the Avon, which is here navigable. It is said to have derived its name from the great number of pear trees in its vicinity. The town is handsome, well built and paved; and contains many very respectable, and some handsome residences and formerly sent members to Parliament. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in the stocking manufactory. The living of St. Andrew is a vicarage, and that of Holy Cross a curacy, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Worcester; the former valued in K. B. 8l. 19s. 2d., and the latter not in charge; patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. The church of St. Andrew is a small structure, with a square tower containing six bells. The church of Holy Cross has a lofty square tower, containing eight bells; and in the building are several ancient monuments. Here was formerly an extensive abbey of Benedictine monks, but by whom founded is uncertain, many vestiges of it, however, still remain, particularly a large portion of the original church, which appears to have been very handsome. The petty sessions are holden here.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of Great Britain and Ireland by John Gorton. The Irish and Welsh articles by G. N. Wright; Vol. III; London; Chapman and Hall, 186, Strand; 1833.
Worcestershire Delineated C. And J. Greenwood 1822
Pershore – a market town, standing on the northern bank of the river Avon, comprising two parishes, St. Andrew’s and Holy Cross, in the hundred of Pershore, upper division; containing 487 inhabited houses. The principal street is nearly three quarters of a mile in length, in which are a considerable number of handsome houses; the footway has recently been paved with flag-stones, which has given a uniform and respectable appearance to the place, far superior to most other country towns.
Pershore had formerly a stately monastery, founded by Oswald, nephew of Ethelbert, King of Mercia, in 689, according to Tanner; but Leland asserts, that Egelward, Duke of Dorset, was its first founder. It afterwards became an abbey of Benedictine monks, of which little now remains except the tower and southern part of the church of Holy Cross, which formerly was 250 feet in length, and 120 in breadth. The part now remaining is kept in very neat order; it has a lofty arched ceiling, ribbed and groined, which gives it an appearance of elegance and grandeur. The church of St. Andrew stands nearly contiguous, and has a small tower, with a good ring of six bells.
The only manufacture carried on in Pershore is in the article of stockings, and that is very limited. Here are a number of market gardeners, who supply Worcester and other markets with all kinds of vegetables, at a very reasonable rate. This town sent members to parliament in the reign of Edward the First, but has returned none since that period. The market is on Tuesday: fairs, Easter Tuesday, June 26th, 1st Monday in August, and the Tuesday before All Saints. The great fair has usually been kept in the churchyard, in defiance of the magistrates, who have used every endeavour to prevent it, but without effect. St. Andrew’s is a vicarage, with the chapels of Holy-Cross, Besford, Bricklehampton, and Defford annexed; Rev. William Probyn, incumbent; instituted 1797; in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. Population, 1801, 1910 – 1811, 2090 – 1821, 2328.
Source: Worcestershire Delineated: Being a Topographical Description of Each Parish, Chapelry, Hamlet, &c. In the County; with the distances and bearings from their respective market towns, &c. By C. and J. Greenwood. Printed by T. Bensley, Crane Court, Fleet Street, London, 1822.
Pershore Holy Cross
The parish of Holy Cross, Pershore included Wadborough and Walcot cum Membris and the northern and western parts of the town of Pershore and stretched north-west to Kempsey and Pirton. The chapel of St. Barnabas at Drakes Broughton was a chapel of ease to Holy Cross Pershore. Pershore Abbey is The Church of the Holy Cross.
Leonard’s Gazetteer Of England And Wales 1850
Pershore (Holy-Cross), adjoining Pershore (St Andrew). P. 2446
Source: Leonard’s Gazetteer of England and Wales; Second Edition; C. W. Leonard, London; 1850
Topographical Dictionary of Great Britain and Ireland 1833
Holy Cross, co. Worcester.
P. T. Worcester (111) adjacent. Pop. 1929.
A township and chapelry in the parish of St. Andrew, Worcester, and upper divison of the hundred of Pershore; living, a curacy subordinate to the vicarage of St. Andrew.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of Great Britain and Ireland by John Gorton. The Irish and Welsh articles by G. N. Wright; Vol. II; London; Chapman and Hall, 186, Strand; 1833.
Pershore St Andrew
The parish of St. Andrew, Pershore includes Pensham and the southern part of the town of Pershore, taking in Bridge Street and part of High Street. The parish also included the chapelries of Bricklehampton and Pinvin and the now separate parishes of Defford and Wick.
Leonard’s Gazetteer Of England And Wales 1850
Pershore (St. Andrew), 103 miles W. London. Market, Tuesday. P. 2359
Source: Leonard’s Gazetteer of England and Wales; Second Edition; C. W. Leonard, London; 1850
Pensham
Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870
Pensham, a hamlet in Pershore St. Andrew parish, Worcester; on the river Avon, 1 ½ mile SW of Pershore. Real property, £1,576; of which £12 are in fisheries. Pop., 106. Houses, 20.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72]
Worcestershire Delineated C. And J. Greenwood 1822
Pensham – a small village, nearly surrounded by the river Avon, 1 mile S. from Pershore; containing 18 inhabited houses. Population, 1801, no return – 1811, no return – 1821, 95.
Source: Worcestershire Delineated: Being a Topographical Description of Each Parish, Chapelry, Hamlet, &c. In the County; with the distances and bearings from their respective market towns, &c. By C. and J. Greenwood. Printed by T. Bensley, Crane Court, Fleet Street, London, 1822.
Abbottswood
A Topographical Dictionary Of The United Kingdom 1808
Abbottswood, a small hamlet in the parish of Pershore, hundred of Pershore, Worcester, 107 miles from London.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of the United Kingdom. Benjamin Pitts Capper. 1808.
Parish Registers
Marriage Licences and Allegations
London Marriage Licences and Allegations 1521 to 1869
The following have been extracted from London Marriage Licences 1521 to 1869.
Abbreviations. — B. Bishop of London’s Office; D. Dean and Chapter of Westminster; F. Faculty Office of Archbishop of Canterbury; V. Registry of the Vicar-General of Canterbury.
Eames, John (Emes), of Parshore, co. Worcester, gent., widower, 50, and Elizabeth Parker, of Hasfield Court, said county, spinster, 30, at her own disposal — at Hasfield aforesaid, or … . 9 Feb. 1699/1700. F
Source: London Marriage Licences 1521 to 1869; Edited by Joseph Foster; London 1887
Marriages Out of Parish
Below is a list of people who were from Pershore but who were married in another parish.
Thomas Clee, of Holy Cross, Pershore, & Elizabeth White, lic. 6 Mar. 1788 at North & Middle Littleton, Worcestershire.
John Amler, of the p’ishe of St. Creucis in P’shor, & Syble Wutton, of S. L…. 13 Jan. 1590 at South Littleton, Worcestershire.
Francis Dekynne, p. St. Adbarrowe Parshor, & Anne Pace … … 26 Apr. 1583 at Churchill in Halfshire, Worcestershire
Parish Records
FamilySearch
Directories
Online Directories
Pershore Bennett’s Business Directory for Worcestershire, 1914
Lascelles & Co.’s Directory and Gazetteer of the City of Worcester & Neighbourhood 1851
Bentley’s Directory of Pershore 1840 – Archive.org
Pershore from Pigot and Co.’s National Commercial Directory 1835 provided by Google Books.
Directory Transcriptions
Pershore Slaters Directory 1850
Pershore Lewis Worcestershire Directory 1820
Pershore Universal Directory 1791
Wadborough Littleburys Worcester Directory 1905
Wadborough Billings Directory of Worcestershire 1855
Walcot-Cum-Membris Billings Directory of Worcestershire 1855
Walcot Cummembris Lewis Worcestershire Directory 1820
Drakes Broughton Littleburys Worcester Directory 1905
Pensham Billings Directory 1855
Pensham is a hamlet of St. Andrew’s, Pershore, distant about one mile from the town, containing but five farms. The population in 1851 was 98.
DIRECTORY
Danter Mary, farmer
George Henry, farmer
Greaves Thomas, farmer
Quarrell George, farmer
Wilson John, farmer; and at Pershore
Source: Billings Directory of Worcestershire 1855
Pensham Lewis Worcestershire Directory 1820
Bedford Samuel, farmer
Bright William, farmer
George Edward, farmer
George Abigal, farmer
Graves John, farmer
Jakeman Thomas, farmer
Pitcher John, farmer
Quarrell John, farmer
Source: S Lewis Worcestershire General and Commercial Directory for 1820.
Pershore Street Directory 1905
Binholme Pershore Worcestershire 1905
Bridge Street Pershore Worcestershire 1905
Broad Street Pershore Worcestershire 1905
Church Street Pershore Worcestershire 1905
Church Walk Pershore Worcestershire 1905
Defford Road Pershore Worcestershire 1905
Head Street Pershore Worcestershire 1905
High Street Pershore Worcestershire 1905
Little Lane Pershore Worcestershire 1905
Mason’s Ryde Pershore Worcestershire 1905
New Road Pershore Worcestershire 1905
Newlands Pershore Worcestershire 1905
Priest Lane Pershore Worcestershire 1905
Station Road Pershore Worcestershire 1905
Three Springs Road Pershore Worcestershire 1905
Worcester Road Pershore Worcestershire 1905
Worcester Street Pershore Worcestershire 1905
Bankrupts
Below is a list of people that were declared bankrupt between 1820 and 1843 extracted from The Bankrupt Directory; George Elwick; London; Simpkin, Marshall and Co.; 1843.
Dineley Francis, Pershore, Worcestershire, money scrivener, Feb. 20, 1821.
Hatch John, Pershore. Worcestershire, rope and twine spinner, Nov. 18, 1828.
Mason George, Pershore, Worcestershire, horse dealer, Dec. 9, 1828.
Melen Henry, Pershore, Worcestershire, grocer, Nov. 27, 1827.
Meredith Jas., Pershore, Worcestershire, woolstapler & maltster, Dec. 6, 1842.
Wheeler John, Pershore, Worcestershire, corn dealer, June 26, 1829.
Administration
- County: Worcestershire
- Civil Registration District: Pershore
- Probate Court: Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory)
- Diocese: Worcester
- Rural Deanery: Pershore
- Poor Law Union: Pershore
- Hundred: Pershore
- Province: Canterbury