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The Hanleys' Villages 
24 Comments
Hi. My (maternal) Great grandmother and her children, lived in Hanley Swan circa 1925. They lived at “Rosemary” (Cottage), Roberts End. This same property was auctioned on 18/12/1971 according to a newspaper clipping we have (this was a considerable time after my family had left.) What we would like to know, is whether the current “Rosemary Cottage” on Roberts End is the same “Rosemary” from 1971 and prior to this, as from glancing from the roadside, it appears a different size and frontage. The family were Rosemary Colton and her daughters Elsie and Freda and her son Patrick. Elsie Colton had good friend named Evelyn Harris (unsure of maiden name) who lived at Coverfield in Hanley Swan, during adulthood. Would anyone know any history about my family and/or “Rosemary” cottage, or Elsie Colton’s friend Evelyn Harris? Thank you.
Hi Hayley
I believe there has only ever been one Rosemary Cottage in Roberts End, next to Brummell Court. Can’t find anyone who knew the Colton or Harris families, but since they were here some 50 years ago, that is perhaps not surprising. Rosemary is not identified in the census returns, although in 1911 the property next to what is now Brummell Court and was then Catterall was occupied by a postman, James Bartlett, and his family. In the last two decades of the 19th century the gardener Richard Darkes and family were there, and before them the blacksmith Thomas Chadd and family.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Malcolm Fare
Hi, I am interested in tracing my fathers family. My Father was Victor George CULL, his father was Charles Benjamin Cull. Charles Benjamin’s father was George Cull and he is shown on the Hanley Castle census’s 1861 through till 1911. Gorge’s father seems to be William Cull and William is included in the Hanley Castle Census’s 1861 through to 1891. Unfortunately, although I am 99% sure I have the right William there are 2 Williams coming up in my searches that could fit the bill one William’s father is Thomas Cull but if I have chosen the right William, his father is Joseph Cull and I can’t find out anything about Joseph Cull so can’t confirm this. I have reached a wall and it would be interesting to know if there is anyone in the area who could help me with this. Both William, George and my grandfather Charles Benjamin were born in Hanley Castle but my father was born in Gloucester. Any information would be good. Are there any family members still living in Hanley Castle?
Best Regards
Gillian Heath
Hi Gillian
According to the 1841 census Joseph Cull 50, his wife Sarah 45 and their family, including Hannah 19, William 10 and Marrianne 7, are living in a cottage on the south side of Roberts End Street. Ten years later Hannah 28 and Mary Anne 18 are still at home with their parents, but William, more accurately aged 24, is one of two labourers boarding with a widow and her daughter in a cottage between two large houses on the north side of Roberts End. I cannot see a Thomas Cull in the census returns for Hanley Castle, so you are probably right in thinking he is not William’s father. Apart from Joseph Cull being listed as born in Gloucestershire, I cannot tell you any more about him.
As far as I know there are no family members still living in Hanley Castle.
Regards
Malcolm Fare
Hi
I’d be very interested to know if you have any information about the Reynolds family in Hanley Castle/Hanley Swan. My great-great-grandparents. William and Selina (aka Liney or Linah) were both born in Hanley Castle, in 1799 and 1808 respectively. They were married at St Mary’s in August 1824, and lived in Gilberts End. William was a carpenter. Their youngest son, Rumsey (my great grandfather), was born in 1851. He was an agricultural labourer, and married Elizabeth Wise from Severn Stoke in about August 1881. They initially lived in Upton, but moved back to Gilberts End in about 1884, then to Pickenend Hanly Swan sometime between 1891 and 1901. My grandmother, Annie Reynolds was born in 1896. My grandfather, Alfred Creese, aslo lived in Hanley Swan, after his family moved from Castlemorton to Robertsend sometime between 1901 and 1911. His father Mark Creese was a baker, and Alfred was his assistant. Alfred Creese and Annie Reynolds were married in 1919, but moved away to Gloucestershire in abut 1922, then to Berkshire.
Thank you in advance for any additional information you are able to find. Cheers, Brian Creese.
My 3xgreat grandfather James Benjamin Birchley was born in Hanley Castle/died Welland 6.9.1864. Although I see the Birchley family in the 1841 census, I’d be interested to know if the family lived there prior to this first census. JBB’s father was Samuel Birchley b. 1796 who married Jane nee Jewell. I see the family do not appear in the 1851 census onwards. If you have any records that show that Samuel was in the village beforehand, I’d be very interested to know. I must say, your website is excellent.
Hi
I’d be interested to know if there are any Mayfields left in the Hanleys. My maternal grandmother, Alice, was born there in 1896, a daughter of Charles Mayfield (1843 – 1894) and Maria Weston (1848 – 1928), of Gilver Lane.
Charles was the son of John Mayfield (1809 – 1883) and Frances [Carless?] of Ripple (1809-1882).
John, in turn, was the son of Richard Mayfield (1771 – 1850) and Mary [Davis?].
Thanks, in advance, for any information you may have.
Regards,
Keith bates
Hi Keith
As far as I know, there are no Mayfields left in Hanley Castle. Looking through our archives, I see that John Mayfield was a shoemaker of Gilberts End in the 1850s and 60s. In 1806 Samuel Mayfield paid tax on land on the south side of Roberts End, a tax that was paid by Richard Mayfield in 1797 when the property was identified in the Enclosure Award as a cottage with land of 2 acres, 1 rood, 1 perch. In the 18th century Charles Mayfield is mentioned as owning land near Tuck Mill and being the tenant of Dame Mary Dineley in Welland. In his will he left 15s a year to be given on Easter Sunday to the poor who had received the Sacrament at least three times during the preceding year.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Malcolm Fare
Thanks, Malcolm — that correlates with my research and certainly solidifies what I have discovered so far.
By any chance, do you know if there are any Mayfields in the local churchyard – We will be visiting the UK next year and would include the Hanleys in our itinerary if there were any connections we could make there.
Regards,
Keith
Hello I am from Australia and searching for and hope that I have found a Harriet Wigley passed away on the 8/10/1848 aged 45 years Hanley Castle, baptised in 1803 Birmingham, I have search everywhere for her, found her husband John Wigley commercial Clerk from Nelson Road Ladywood Birmingham burial 1842 aged 46. I am hoping that at last I found her, I also hope that her Porter family came from Eastham Worchester he settled in Birmingham as a Clog Maker.
Regards,
Janet Pritchard
I am at the beginning of research into my Grandmother’s family. We were always told as children that she was a ‘ward’ of Lord Lechmere, though I suspect this may be a glamorised truth! Her name was Mabel Robbins and I believe she was born around 1882 and her brother was Thomas. I notice that there is a Robbins family who were gardeners at Rhydd Court but their names to not appear. This would tie in with Great Uncle Tom who I knew as an asparagus farmer in Evesham. My grandmother became a school teacher and was clearly well educated. I know it is a long shot but can you shed any light?
Many thanks, Tina.
Hi Tina
Robert Robbins is listed as head gardener at Rhydd Court in the 1881 and 1891 census returns for Hanley Castle. He and his wife Mary had three daughters and a son, but none of them is named Mabel or Thomas, so I cannot shed much light on your family legend I’m afraid.
Regards
Malcolm Fare
I have now verified that Robert Robbins, who was head gardener at Rhydd Court, is my Great Grandfather and that his youngest daughter was Blanche Mabel Robbins, my Grandmother who was a school teacher in Rowley Regis before marrying James Horace Brown of Halesowen.
I am trying to put together my family tree and have traced my fathers grandparents back to Hanley Swan. They lived at St Gabriels Terrace in 1911, and were called Thomas & Esther Gardner. If anybody has any information or could provide me with any links etc it would be really appreciated.
Many Thanks.
Hi Diane
You can find Thomas & Esther Gardner in earlier census returns, but in 1901 the name was entered as Gardener, still living at St Gabriel’s Terrace, Hanley Swan, with children Mary Ann (22), domestic servant, Frank E (13) and Alice M (7).
In 1891 Thomas Gardner (40), herdsman, and his wife Esther (39), were living at Alveston, Tiddington, Worcs, with their children Mary A (13), George H (8) and Frank E (3).
1881 sees Thomas (31) and Esther (29) at Work House Row, Brailes, Worcs, with Mary A (3) and Caleb N (0), who presumably died young. Ten years earlier Thomas is an unmarried agricultural labourer lodging with the Baldwin family in Brailes.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Malcolm Fare
Hi Malcolm
Thank you so much for the information about Thomas and Esther Gardner and their family. The Frank E Gardner was my Grandfather – Frank Ernest who moved to Yorkshire after a trip to Australia. I will try and pick up the link and see if any of the addresses still exist, hopefully a visit to the area can then be planned.
I know that the daughter of Thomas and Esther, Mary Ann married a Charles Bradley and that they lived in Church Cottages Hanley Swan, they had 2 daughters Edith and Daisy – I wonder if any relatives remain in the area? I know it is a long shot – but would love to hear from any of them.
Once again, many many thanks for the help so far.
Regards
Diane
I know this is a long shot, but I am tracing my husbands great,great,
great grandfather and his name was Peter Massey born about 1825
and the only information on the Tasmanian archive site is he was
born in Hanley Green.He was married in Tasmania in 1858 .
I do not know where Hanley Green is or how and when he came to Australia, I believe he came out as a free settler, not a convict.
if you could point me in the correct direction for Hanley Green it would
be appreciated,at the moment I am just googling all over the place.
Many thanks,
Pam
Hi Pam
Hanley Green was the name sometimes given in the 19th century to the village of Hanley Swan in the parish of Hanley Castle, Worcestershire, but I cannot find Peter Massey in the 1841 census. Suggest you search the baptism records.
Regards
Malcolm Fare
I am trying to find references to the Severn family before Enclosure Acts in Worcester
Mary Ann (Banks) b near Yarm & Mark Higham b Eydon Northants. She was ladies Maid to Louisa Haigh at Whitwell Hall, he was a Groom at Whitwell for her father. They both moved to Hanley Castle with Louisa on her marriage to Sir Edmund Lechmere in 1858. Mary Ann is said to have had her portrait painted as Madonna with Child for the Lechmere family and by 1861 was head of a school for local (?) girls in Hanley (see the 1861 census). After their marriage at Hanley Church in 1864 they ran The Oak/Royal Oak at Barnards Green, where their 3 children were born. Later the family returned to Darlington.
I have read the history of the Lechmere family on your site and can also confirm that Mary Ann & Mark said the Lechmere`s were very good people and who gave them a dinner service on their marriage, which they treasured rather than used !
If anyone has any historical knowledge of Mary Ann & Mark Higham I`d be very pleased to hear from them.
This is one of the best web sites I`ve ever seen, very readable and comprehensive. Brilliant.
I’ve just read your comments and am interested to know more as Mark Higham and Mary Ann (Banks) were my great great grandparents. Please send me an email if you have any further info regarding their lives or have any photos.
I am investigating family history and have found the Williams Family living in Hanley Castle at the time of the 1891 census but then disappearing by the 1901 census. John Joseph Williams and his family(Catherine – wife, and children Mabel, Margaret, Grace, Dora, Clement and Stanley) lived at Church End and the 2 adults were school teachers. My mother was unaware of some of the children so her interest in them makes me ask if anyone may have any more information? Perhaps the school in this area? we know that the older members of the family ended up in Liverpool.
kind regards
Sally Hardman
Hi,
I am querying if it is possible to find any information on Francis W Jenkins, known as Frank, who lived in Hanley Castle and was married to Alice Birt. Frank was born in 1895 and on the 1911 census he lived at Gilberts End. Alice Birt lived at 39 Quay Lane n 1911.
I understand that he probably worked on an estate as he had a cottage by Cliffey Wood.
My connection is my wife’s father, George Spencer, was Alice Birt’s cousin.
If there is any information about them that you could let me have I would be very grateful.
May I take this oppurtunity to say what a great site this is, I came across this quite by chance and have got a lot of info from it, especially with regards to the Brush family another side which we have.
Many thanks,
Best regards
Chris Scott
If you can help Chris, please leave a comment and I will forward your email address to him