Grafton Flyford Worcestershire Family History Guide
Grafton Flyford is an Ancient Parish in the county of Worcestershire.
Alternative names: Grafton-Super-Flyford, Flyford Grafton
Other places in the parish include: Libbery.
Parish Church: St. John
Parish registers begin: 1676
Table of Contents
Adjacent Parishes
Grafton Flyford Parish Registers
Search online registers of baptisms, marriages, banns and burials including digitised images of original records and registers and indexed transcriptions.
Baptism, Marriage and Burial Records
These records include images of Church of England parish registers of baptism, marriage, and burial records.
Grafton Flyford, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812
Grafton Flyford, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1812-1922
Marriage and Banns Records
These records include images of Church of England parish registers of marriages and banns records.
Grafton Flyford, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1947
Death and Burial Records
These records include images of Church of England parish registers of deaths and burial records.
Grafton Flyford, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1997
The following Worcestershire Monumental Inscriptions, hosted by Findmypast, are a collection of transcriptions created by the Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry.
Grafton Flyford St John the Baptist Monumental Inscriptions 1645-1983
Crime & Punishment
Search online Worcestershire criminal records including records of prisoners, gaol and Quarter Sessions records with digitised images of the original records.
Worcestershire, Calendar of Prisoners
This wide‑ranging collection brings together almost three centuries of Worcestershire prison and criminal justice material. It includes early gaol lists, recognisances, indictments, presentments, and handwritten calendars from the 1600s and 1700s, as well as the later printed Calendars of Prisoners used in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Depending on the date, entries may note a person’s name, occupation, residence, the charge against them, details of their trial, or the sentence imposed. These records offer valuable glimpses into crime, poverty, and everyday life across the county.
To view the images of the original records, use the dropdown menu on the right-hand side of the Ancestry search page in the “Browse This Collection” box – the older gaol lists, recognisances, indictments and handwritten calendars are all hidden there with links to images of the original records.
Calendar of Criminal Prisoners 1756
Calendar of Criminal Prisoners in County Gaol 1762
Calendar of Prisoners 1660-1934
Calendar of Prisoners, Box 01 1890-1891
Calendar of Prisoners, Box 02 1892
Calendar of Prisoners, County Brideswell 1759-1827
Calendar of Prisoners, Handwritten Lists 1815
Calendar of Prisoners, Vol. 01 1901-1911
Calendar of Prisoners, Vol. 02 1912-1921
Indictments and Presentments 1700-1770
List of Those in County Gaol 1655-1656
Return of Prisoners Committed for Trial 1816-1820
Rough List of Cases and Sentences Awarded 1822
Worcester City, Gaoler´s List of Prisoners 1772-1839
Quarter Sessions Order Books
The Quarter Sessions Order Books record the names and cases of thousands of people who appeared before Worcestershire’s Justices of the Peace between the 1600s and the early 20th century whether as defendants, complainants, victims, witnesses, or parish officials involved in everything from minor offences and assaults to settlement disputes, bastardy cases, licences, and local administrative matters. Entries may note names, ages, dates, the nature of the complaint or offence, and the outcome of the case.
Worcester City Order Books 1632-1940
You may find the following books helpful …
Grafton Flyford Directory Transcriptions
Grafton Flyford Worcestershire Littleburys Directory 1879
Grafton-Super-Flyford (the latter name a streamlet so called) is a village and parish 7 ½ miles E. of Worcester on the road for Alcester, 8 S.E. of Droitwich, and 7 N. of Pershore; in the eastern division of the county, and hundred of Upper Pershore; union, petty sessional division, and county court district of Pershore; highway district of Upton Snodsbury; polling district of Inkberrow; annual rateable value, £1,820; area of parish, 1,640 acres; population in 1861, 225; in 1871, 234, with 51 inhabited houses, and 55 families or separate occupiers.
The Earl of Coventry is lord of the manor and principal landowner. William Laslett, Esq., and Henry Moore, Esq., are also landowners here. The soil is mixed; subsoil, clay; chief crops, wheat, barley, beans, and oats.
Grafton is in the diocese and archdeaconry of Worcester and rural deanery of Pershore; living, a rectory; value £260, with residence; patron, the Earl of Coventry; rector, Rev. Alfred Ernest Richings, who was instituted in 1876. The church of St. John, with the exception of the tower, was rebuilt in 1875; the cost of the chancel was defrayed by the Rev. G. R. Port, the then rector, and the remainder of the building by subscription. It is chiefly in the perpendicular style, and consists of chancel with small chapel on the north side, nave, and western tower containing five bells, on which are some curious inscriptions. A new rectory-house was erected in 1878.
There is a free school here, poorly endowed; and many bequests have been left in aid of the school, the poor, and the repairs of the church, which have been the subject of much litigation.
Libbery is a hamlet 1 mile S.W.
POSTAL REGULATIONS. – Letters are received through Worcester, which is the nearest money-order and telegraph office and post town. No delivery on Sundays.
Parish Church (St. John’s). – Rev. Alfred Ernest Richings, Rector; Mr. James Pardoe and Miss Mary Herbert, Churchwardens; James Lamb, Parish Clerk.
Free Church School (boys and girls). – Mr. James Lamb, Master; Mrs. Lamb, Sewing Mistress.
Carriers to Worcester. – John Clarke (from Stock green) passes through on Saturdays; Ryland and Marshall pass through on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
PRIVATE RESIDENT.
Richings Rev. Alfred Ernest (rector), The Rectory
AGRICULTURAL & COMMERCIAL.
Atkins William, farmer, Jasper’s farm; res., Bath road, Worcester
Bluck Benjamin, shopkeeper
Bolton Thomas, farmer; res., Kington
Court Thomas, farmer; res., North Piddle
Cowley George & Oliver, farmers, Woodhouse end
Cowley John, shopkeeper
Cowley Richard, Rose cottage
Harris Adonijah George, miller and farmer, Grafton mill and Libbery farm
Herbert The Misses Mary and Martha, farmer, Church farm
Lacy James, farmer, Woodhouse end
Lamb James, schoolmaster, parish clerk, assistant overseer, and registrar of births and deaths for Upton Snodsbury district
Pardoe James, farmer, Hill court and Rectory farm
Seeney James, farmer, Hill Top farm
Stephens William, shopkeeper
Streeter Edwin, farmer, Libbery
Unton Nathaniel, farmer, The Elms farm
Source: Littlebury, Littlebury’s Directory and Gazetteer of Worcester & District, Third Edition. Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co. 1879.
Grafton Flyford (with the Hamlet of Libbery) Billings Directory 1855
Grafton Flyford is situated about 8 miles N.N.E. from Worcester, a little out of the main road from Worcester to Alcester. The village is small, and the parish scattered. It contained a population in 1851 of 214 inhabitants.
Flyford was attached to Grafton, to distinguish it from Grafton near Bromsgrove, and also from a brook which runs near to it. Libbery is a small hamlet, the population of which is returned with the parish.
The Church, which is pleasantly situated on an eminence, is an ancient pile, consisting of nave, chancel, north chapel, and western tower, with embattlements, containing six bells. The prevailing styles are the perpendicular and early English. The tower has rude carved stone figures at each angle. The chancel contains memorials to the Stonehall and Derby families, and a Latin inscription to Rogerus Stonhallus, who was one of the founders of a school here, bearing date 1645. the living is a Rectory, in the patronage of the trustees of the Earl of Coventry. Rev. Bernard Port, M.A., Rector; Rev. William Unett Coates, B.A., Curate; Mr. Henry Price, Clerk. Service – 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Summer months, 3 30 p.m.
The School, situated near the church, was founded and endowed by roger Stonehall and Sir John Grafton, who died in 1645. Sir John Grafton, Knight, as shown by the table of benefactions, gave a house, and a quarter of an acre of land, called Child’s Place, in Woodhouse End fields; also a piece of ground called The Stockings, containing about six acres; and also about seven acres in North Piddle fields; the rents to be divided – one moiety towards a school – the other to be again divided, one half towards repairing the church, and the other to be given to the poor. Mr. Roger Stonehall gave £100, to be laid out in land, which purchased one close of about eight acres, for the maintenance of a schoolmaster, to instruct poor men’s children; he also gave the rent of one house and close to be yearly distributed to two of the oldest poor people of the parish. Mr. William Dugard gave one acre of land, the rent to be divided for the school, repairing the church, and the benefit of the poor.
Charities – In addition to the above benefactions, there are several others, which are laid out in bred, &c., and given to the poor of the parish at stated periods in accordance with the will of the donors.
DIRECTORY
Ardin Thomas, wheelwright
Ardin William, farmer, Woodhouse
Biddle George and Henry, farmers, Rectory Farm
Bishop Thomas, shopkeeper
Bolton William, farmer, Hill Top
Cowley John, shopkeeper
Gerrard George, farmer, Hill court
Herbert Mary, farmer, Church Farm
Harris Adonijah George, miller, Grafton Mill
Lamb James, commercial schoolmaster, Registrar of Birth and Deaths for the Upton Snodsbury District, and Assistant Overseer, School House
Lilley Joseph, shoe maker
Pardoe James, farmer, Shattery
Pardoe William, farmer, Jaspers
Libbery
Ewins John, farmer
Read William, farmer, Libbery Farm
Price, Parish Clerk
Wythes William, farmer
Source: Billings Directory of Worcestershire 1855
Grafton Flyford Lewis Worcestershire Directory 1820
Grafton Flyford, 6 miles from Droitwich, containing 42 houses, and 184 inhabitants.
Bellers William, farmer
Burbage C., farmer
Elliott Joseph, farmer
Ewins Thomas, farmer
Handy Richard, farmer
Hewitt Thomas, farmer
Hodgkins Thos., miller
Hopkins Wm., farmer
Morris Thomas, farmer
Podmore George esq.
Tandy John, farmer
Unton John, farmer
Woodward J., farmer
Woodward Wm., farmer
Source: S Lewis Worcestershire General and Commercial Directory for 1820.
Parish History
Grafton Flyford Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales Circa 1870
Flyford Grafton, a parish in Pershore district, Worcester; 2 ¾ miles E of Spetchley r. station, and 6 ½ N by E of Pershore. It includes the hamlet of Libbery. Post-town, Spetchley, under Worcester. Acres, 1,640. Real property, £1,832. Pop., 225. Houses, 52. The property is divided among a few. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Worcester. Value, £75. Patron, the Earl of Coventry. The church is ancient, with a pinnacled tower; and was recently in bad condition. An endowed school has £31; and other charities £8.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
Grafton Flyford The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales 1851
Flyford-Grafton, a parish in the upper division of the hund. of Pershore, union of Pershore, county of Worcester; 7 miles east-east by north of Worcester. Living, a rectory in the archd, and dio. of Worcester; rated at £20 0s. 10d.; gross income £120. Patron, in 1835, the Earl of Coventry. Here is a school with a moderate endowment. Charities, £27 per annum. Poor rates, in 1838, £53 7s. Acres 1,640. Houses 48. A. P. £2,343. Pop., in 1801, 184; in 1831, 242.
Source: The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales; A Fullarton & Co. Glasgow; 1851.
Grafton Flyford Worcestershire Delineated C. and J. Greenwood 1822
Grafton Flyford – a parish in the hundred of Pershore, upper division, 7 ½ miles E. from Worcester, and 112 from London; containing 43 inhabited houses. Here is a good free school for all the boys in the parish: at present there are two masters, chosen by opposite parties, who are contending in Chancery, which has the right of choice. The living is a rectory; Rev. Richard Darke, incumbent; instituted 1797; patron, the Earl of Coventry. Population, 1801, 184 – 1811, 221 – 1821, 241.
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.
Family History Links for Grafton Flyford
The Worcestershire and Dudley Historic Churches Trust Site
Historical Maps
Alan Godfrey Old Ordnance Survey Maps
The full range of Worcestershire maps produced by Alan Godfrey are available in the Worcestershire Maps section of the Books & Maps area. There you can search by principal villages and parishes, by key features for town and city plans, and sort the maps by type and scale. Coverage is taken from the places listed in Alan Godfrey’s own map descriptions, although smaller parishes may not be explicitly named. View all the Worcestershire & District Alan Godfrey Maps.
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
- Petty Sessional Division: Pershore
- County Court District: Pershore
- Highway District: Upton Snodsbury
- Polling District: Inkberrow
County Archives
County Archives covering this parish include:
Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service
The Hive, Sawmill Walk, The Butts, Worcester, WR1 3PD
Tel: 01905 822866
Services provided: document copying, research and digitisation services – please contact the Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service for more information.
Website: Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service
County Maps
The Godfrey Edition reprints of Old Ordnance Survey Maps are invaluable for historians and genealogists. Many are taken from the highly detailed 1:2500 plans, reprinted at about 14 inches to the mile, showing individual houses, railways, factories, churches, mills, canals. Each map includes historical notes on the area. Alongside these large‑scale sheets, Alan Godfrey also publishes the smaller‑scale Inch‑to‑the‑Mile series, and a range of maps based on the OS five‑foot plans.
