Besford Littlebury Worcestershire Directory 1879

Besford is a village, and was formerly a chapelry in the parish of St. Andrew, Pershore, but in 1865 it was united with Defford as one ecclesiastical district. It is 1 ½ miles N. of Defford station, 4 S.W. of Pershore station (about 3 from the town of Pershore), and 6 N.E. of Upton-on-Severn; is in the eastern division of the county, hundred of Upper Pershore, union, petty sessional division, polling district, and county court district of Pershore; is assessed to the county rate at £2,300. The acreage is 1,360; population in 1861, 164; in 1871, 176, with 34 inhabited houses. The Bristol and Birmingham branch of the Midland line runs through the parish. Sir Thomas Gage Saunders Sebright, Bart., is lord of the manor and owner of the whole parish. The soil is clay and sand; subsoil, stone and gravel; chief crops are wheat, beans, barley, and fruit. The united vicarage of Defford-cum-Besford is in the diocese and archdeaconry of Worcester and rural deanery of Pershore; yearly value £170, in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, and held by the Rev. George Swinden, M.A., Brasenose College, Oxford, who was instituted in 1865, and resides at Defford. Besford church is unique in this county for being a timber-framed structure, probably erected during the Perpendicular period, as the western window presents a curious specimen of the style, its mullions and tracery being of wood! The building consists of a chancel, nave, bell-cot or small tower at the west gable, and wooden south porch; the chancel is Early English. The panelled mural monuments to the ancient family of Harewell are singularly interesting, and there are memorials of the Sebrights. Here also are a rood screen, triptich, and other things highly interesting to the ecclesiologist. The church having been for some time past in a state of gradual decay, a thorough reparation and restoration has been decided upon, at an estimated cost of £1,600, and subscriptions are now being obtained for that purpose. The register dates from 1750. Besford Court, the ancient seat of the Harewells and Sebrights, is at present void. It has the original gates and porter’s lodge remaining; and an ancient tithe-barn is near the house. Postal Regulations. – Letters are received through Pershore. The letter-box is cleared at 5 p.m. daily (Sundays excepted). Postal telegrams may be sent from and received at Defford railway station. Pershore is the nearest money-order office and post town.

St. Peter’s Church. – Rev. George Swinden, M.A., Vicar; Joseph Checketts, Esq., Churchwarden; Thomas Houghton, Parish Clerk.

Carrier to Worcester. – Joseph Cockbill (from Birlingham) passes through on Saturdays; stops at the Union Inn, Carden street, Worcester.

PRIVATE RESIDENT.

Checketts Joseph, Esq.

AGRICULTURAL.

Checketts Jos., farmer, near the Church

Day George, farmer

Evans Thomas, farmer

Houghton Charles, farm bailiff for Joseph Checketts, Esq.

Houghton Thomas, parish clerk

Revill John, farmer

Tovey Frederick, farmer, The Bridge

Source: Littlebury, Littlebury’s Directory and Gazetteer of Worcester & District, Third Edition. Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co. 1879.

Besford Billings Directory of Worcestershire 1855

Besford, a chapelry in the parish of St. Andrew, Pershore, is situate about 3 miles from that town, and contained in 1851 a population of 177 inhabitants. The Chapel is a small old building, with tower and two bells. The living is in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. Rev. Thomas Whitaker, Curate; Mr. William Davies, Clerk. Service – 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., alternately with Defford.

DIRECTORY

Woodward Thomas, Esq., Besford Court

Bullock James, farmer, New Farm

Bullock William, farmer, Besford Bridge

Checketts Joseph, farmer

Evans Thomas, farmer

Davies Thomas, shoe maker

Tovey John, The Executors of, farmers

Source: Billings Directory of Worcestershire 1855

Besford Lewis Worcestershire Directory 1820

Baylis Henry, farmer

Bullock John, farmer

Checketts Giles, farmer

Checketts Joseph, farmer

Fenwick N. L. Esq.

Tovey John, farmer

Tovey Elizabeth, farmer

Source: S Lewis Worcestershire General and Commercial Directory for 1820.

Defford with Besford Littleburys Directory 1905

Distances – 10 miles S.E. of Worcester (8 ½ by rail), 3 S.W. of Pershore, and 5 N.E. of Upton-on-Severn.

Population – In 1901, 566. Acreage, 1682.

Postal Information – Post and Telegraph Office, Edwin Roberts, Sub-Postmaster. Letters arrive from Worcester about 6.15 a.m. and 3.40 p.m.; despatched thereto at 10. 15 a.m. and 6.30 and 7.20 p.m. Telegrams may be sent from this office, and money order and savings bank business transacted. Post town, Worcester. Wall Letter-box, near Railway Station, cleared at 8 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. on weekdays, and at 6.30 p.m. only on Sundays. Wall Letter-box at Besford is cleared at 7.15 a.m. and 6.55 p.m.

Parish Church (St. James’) – Rev. George Swinden, M.A., Vicar of Defford-cum-Besford; Messrs. Edwin Roberts and Simon Onions, Churchwardens; Charles Chambers, Sexton.

Elementary School for Defford and Besford) – Robert Kersley, Master.

Defford and District Working Men’s Institute – The Earl of Coventry, President; John Brooks, Hon. Secretary.

Midland Railway Station – Anthony Swift, Station Master.

Midland Railway Goods Department – M. Spiers & Sons, Carting Agents for the Midland Railway from Defford Station to Pershore.

Residents

Ballard George, bailiff

Ballinger C. E., clerk to the parish council

Bowcott John, mkt. gardener, Church villa

Brooks John, Fair view

Butler Jacob, carpenter, Cold comfort

Checketts Major F., Besford

Clark Miss Jessie, dressmaker, &c.

Coney Frederick, Church farm, Besford

Davis John Andrew, coal dealer

Elliott T., farm bailiff, Chestnut cottage

Ewins Alice M. M., furnished apartments, Spring Bank, Defford. Superior furnished apartments, pleasantly situated. Highest references. Good fishing.

Hayward Mrs. Julia, baker, Woodmancote

Hayward William, farmer, Borders farm

Hemus George, farmer, Bourne farm

Holder Mrs.

Hollier Edward, Crown Inn

Jordon Alfred Ormond, Besford court

Kersley Robert, schoolmaster, School house

Lloyd Miss, Chestnut cottage

Onions Simon, J.P., The Old Manor house, Bourne bank

Read Mrs. Susannah, farmer, Defford farm

Revill Mark, farmer

Roberts Burrage, grocer

Roberts Edwin, grocer and baker, Post office

Roper Jos. Hughes, blacksmith & carpenter

Spiers M. & Sons., hay, straw, and coal merchants, carting agents for the Midland Railway, and furniture removers, Railway station (see advt.)

Summers Mrs., beer retailer, The Oak, Woodmancote

Swift Anthony, station master, Railway sta.

Swinden Rev. George. M.A., (vicar of Defford-cum-Besford), The Vicarage

Taylor Mrs. Elizabeth, cider retlr. & farmer

Taylor George, New Inn

Taylor James, The Villa, Woodmancote

Taylor John, mkt. grdnr., Woodmancote fm.

Taylor Mrs. W.

Wadley John, farmer, Millpond

Ward Harry, market gardener

White Mrs. E. A., furnished apartments, Avon Cottage, Defford. Pleasant situation. Excellent accommodation for visitors. Good fishing. Moderate terms.

Willis George, Hayward of the common

Willis John, Railway Inn

Woodward Herbt., frmr., Dudley Charity fm.

Littlebury’s Directory of Worcester & District. Tenth Edition. Printed and Published by Littlebury & Company, The Worcester Press, Worcester. 1905.