Malvern Family History Society

THE MALVERNS Images of England by Brian Iles. Tempus Publishing Ltd - ISBN 0 7524 3667 8
This charming collection of over 200 archive photographs documents life in the Malverns from the 1860s until the 1950s. The area is famous for its mineral water and became a popular place 'to take the waters' in the Victorian era. The 1930s saw the heyday of the Malvern film and theatre festivals' which attracted actors such as Errol Flynn and Stewart Grainger to the area. All aspects of everyday life are featured here, including shops and businesses, work and leisure and the war years. Local events such as the Bicycle Carnivals at Malvern Link are also recalled.
The Malverns will delight those who want to know more about the history of the area and evoke memories of a bygone time for those who have lived or worked here.

AROUND MALVERN IN OLD PHOTOGRAPHS by Keith Smith - ISBN 0 - 86299 - 587- 6 - Published by Alan Sutton Publishing, Gloucester. An excellent collection of old photographs, postcards & prints covering the period 1850`s to 1950`s.

AQUAE MALVERNIENSIS by Cora Weaver & Bruce Osbourne - ISBN 1- 873809 - 07- 7
A history & topography of the springs, spouts, fountains & wells of the Malvern's. Includes people & places.

THE MALVERN WATER CURE by John Winsor Harcup - ISBN0 - 9507540 - 3 - X
About the cures & the people involved.

THE MALVERNS by Pamela Hurle ISBN 0 - 85033 - 8190 - 0
Mainly about churches & places.

BYGONE MALVERN by Pamela Hurle - ISBM 0- 85033 - 725 - 9
A wonderful collection of old pictures, postcards & prints of Malvern in the early 20th century.

MALVERN CHASE. by Pamela Hurle 1993 Its origins, law & legacy (booklet)

MALVERN VOICES: SCHOOLS. ed. Gill Holt 2002 ISBN 0 9541520 2 6 An Oral History

MALVERN VOICES: CHILDHOOD. ed.Gill Holt 2001 ISBN 0 9541520 0 X An Oral History of the 20th Century

THE MALVERN HILLS AND WESTWARD by Archie Miles 2002 ISBN 0-9542690-1-2
Travels through the Malverns and East Herefordshire (in photographs)

SCIENCE COMES TO MALVERN - TRE A STORY OF RADAR 1942 - 1953. by Ernest Putley
This is a very interesting and informative account of the development of radar in Malvern and the important part it played in the defeat of the axis powers. Cost is currently £4. 95 but only obtainable from Malvern Museum.

THIS WAS OUR MALVERN Complied by Margaret Bramford.
An entertaining account of life in a Spa town in Worcestershire, in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, as recalled by Malvern folk themselves, with occasional glances backward to even earlier times. In two volumes, each containing 30+ photos several in colour. Price £10 per volume. Available from Beacon Books, Great Malvern. Worcestershire.Tel: 01684 564939. e-mail: beaconbooksmalvern@btconnect.com

The Story of MALVERN LINK Worcestershire. by Daphne Drake F.L.A. Printed and published by
First Paige 19 Abbey Road, Malvern, Worcs. WR14 3ES. (A5 size 35 pages) 2nd Edition 2000.
This excellent book charts the history of the Link from about 1000 BC to 2000AD. The story is enhanced by the inclusion of appropriate illustrations and photographs. Available from the publisher and local bookshops.

A MALVERN BIBLIOGRAPHY. A Historical and Descriptive Account of Books published about Malvern 1725 - 1987 by Roger Hall - Jones. Printed and published by First Paige. This A5 size book lists 133 books about Malvern and gives a short description of each. It is liberally sprinkled with illustrations and is a mine of information for anyone interested in all aspects of the Malvern area. Again available from the publisher and local bookshops.

CASTLEMORTON FARMER. John Rayner Lane 1798 – 1871. ISBN 0 9529366 0 7
John Rayner Lane an articulate and reasonably well off farmer kept a diary for much of his life spent in Castlemorton near Malvern in Worcestershire. He called them his ‘ Memorandums’ and sadly many of them do not seem to have survived. Pamela Hurle the author and publisher has gathered together those that do and with the illustrations of Charles Grant this provides a wonderful insight into 19th century rural life.
Lane travelled widely during his lifetime so his diaries are not confined to purely local matters. The extracts add up to 16 years in Lane’s life between 1822 and his death in 1871. A must for anyone interested in the local history of this area.

COLWALL COLLECTION, Memories of a Herefordshire Village. Author: Stephen Ballard.1999 ISBN 1 873809 37 9
Published for the Colwall Millenium Project.

THE GUARLFORD STORY. The Guarlford History Group 2005 ISBN 0 - 9550498 - 0 - 6
This story is an account of Guarlford and its inhabitants from pre-Roman days until the present time, with the emphasis on social activities and working environments over the last one hundred and fifty years.

THE GUARLFORD SCENE. The Guarlford History Group 2005 ISBN 978-0-9550498-1-1
The Group's second book is a pictorial celebration of the village, which remains a vibrant community and a pleasant place to live.

UPTON. Author Pamela Hurle. ISBN 0 85033 687 2
Upton is fortunate to have reached the 21st Century with so much of its ancient charm and so many of its older buildings still intact. A prosperous town in the Middle Ages, when ' the King's High Stream of Severn ' was one of Europe's busiest thoroughfares, Upton has remained largely unchanged so that its past, so vividly evoked in Mrs Hurle's book, seems much nearer to the present than in most places.

DEAR POLLY. Letters to a Victorian Lady’s Maid. ISBN 1 85858 221 0
In 1873 Polly Weaver, a lady’s maid fell in love with Alfred Hayes, whilst they both worked at Grafton Manor near Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, but circumstances kept them apart for seven years until they could marry. She moved around the country whilst he moved to the Royal Academy at Sandhurst as an orderly and later worked as a station porter, a gardener and a gamekeeper. They corresponded throughout this time. Whilst the letters that Polly wrote have not survived, Polly kept all Alf’s letters and their granddaughter Meriel Hayes has edited and published them in this book.The letters give a vivid insight into everyday life at the time. Tales of balls, poverty, crime and kindness. It is a story of romance hope and disappointment set against a background of Victorian attitudes and the aspirations of an ordinary working couple from Worcestershire.

OLD WORCESTER : People and Places. Bill Gwilliam. ISBN 0 951352 8 x
Bill Gwilliam has been interested in local, social and industrial history all his life and is the author of a number of books about Worcester and Worcestershire. In his introduction he tells us that he had three aims: firstly, to record information about places in Worcester; secondly, to bring life to those places through the stories of people who lived and worked there; and thirdly, to make known facts about the city which are not easily available elsewhere. He has obtained much of the information from contemporary newspapers and personal recollections and of course we are fortunate in that Worcester has a unique collection of surviving 18th and 19th century newspapers unmatched by any other provincial English city. It is well illustrated and it is a book which, due to it’s layout, you can just dip into periodically.

MEMORIES OF WORCESTER by True Northern Books Ltd - ISBN 1- 903204 - 25 - 9
A nice collection of pictures showing people & places together with a good description, covering the 1950`s & 1960`s.

WORCESTER by Paul Harrison. 2005 in the images of England series by Tempus. ISBN 0 7524 3726 7
This book is full of black and white pictures with quite detailed descriptions. Its chapters cover the different areas of the city together with other topics including sporting Worcester, Royal Worcester and Elgar. It shows lots of the now-demolished parts of the city and although it does not give lots of people's names, there are lots of public houses and shop fronts that readers may relate to. It gives evidence of a quieter way of life against still-recognisable landmarks.

KAYS OF WORCESTER Author : Bernard Mills 2003 ISBN 0 - 9546662 - 0 - 8
Kays has a long history that can be traced back to the latter part of the eighteenth century. Founded in Worcester by the man who gave the company its name, William Kilbourne Kay, in the 1880's, Kays had by the end of the twentieth century become one of the largest manufacturing companies operating in many offices throughout the United Kingdom

THE HISTORY OF BARBOURNE by Claire and Terry Wardle. 2007 ISBN 978 0 955 3809 0 7
Publisher MTC Ltd, PO Box 665, Worcester WR1 3WN This is a history book of the Victorian suburb on the north side of Worcester. It is a very detailed read on the early history of the area (Anglo-Saxon) right up to the present times. Illustrated with historic maps, plans, drawings and photographs shows how this area developed into what it is today. Lots of names and details.

OLD REDDITCH VOICES. Author Anne Bradford. This history of Redditch told by people who either experienced the history first hand or were closely associated with it, told in their own words. Over 100 people were interviewed for the book. Published by Hunt End Books in 2005. Available at any W H Smiths or Waterstones – can be ordered if not in stock. Price £12.95. About 450 pages illustrated.

STOURPORT-ON-SEVERN. Author Anne Bradford. A history of the town and the area told by those who were involved. Fifty plus people were interviewed for this book. Now out of stock, but could be available from libraries or the second hand market. Again published by Hunt End Books in 2002. Price was £9.95. About 280 pages.

OF THE PARISH HERE AND THERE. The History of Martin Hussingtree. Author Gill Lawley No ISBN
Publisher Anmar Publications, Fernall Heath, Worcester. e-mail sunny.side49@virgin net.co.uk One of our members says - Here is one about the village where I live, it is very good.

WYCHBOLD BEFORE THE MOTORWAY by Robin Skerratt
This book was printed for Robin by Droitwich Print, North Street, Droitwich. This is one of the best books I have ever seen for family historians, just full of pictures of people mostly named at work, rest and play from the early 20th century to the 1960`s. A must for people having relatives who resided in this village.

MEMORIES OF WYCHBOLD by Robin Skerratt - Printed by Ebenezer Baylis & Sons Ltd, Worcester.
Another wonderful book by this author, recounting memories through the 20th century, but mainly the first sixty years. The book takes you on a tour of the village telling you where people lived, with some wonderful pictures of their houses and in many cases their occupants. There are also some interesting snippets about people and the lives they led. Another must have book for rhe genealogist with ancestors in this area. There are still a few copies left at £7.50 plus p&p. For further details email Administrator

PERSHORE PEOPLE. Authors: Janet Daniels & Marion Freeman 2004 (privately printed)This book describes the lives of some of the people of Pershore's past, many of whom were just ordinary folk. From the Perrott family to cholera victims the authors have tried to bring to life the stories behind certain individuals who have become part of the history of Pershore.

AROUND PERSHORE IN OLD PHOTOGRAPHS. Author : Michael Dowty 1988. ISBN 0 - 80299 - 480 - 2
This collection of visual memories comes via the lens of...William Ward Dowty (1887-1979) covering the period when he was learning his profession in the family business at High Street, Pershore...This simple tour of Pershore and its villages is filled with glimpses of all sorts of delights and curiosities

PERSHORE. The Archive Photograph series. Author : Marion Freeman. 1997 ISBN 0 7524 0726 0
This collection of old photographs and postcards is a nostalgic look at old Pershore and the surrounding villages, with informative captions (from the author's research) and from the memories of a host of local people.

PERSHORE REVISITED Author : Marion Freeman. ISBN 07524 7524 3737 2 in the Images of England series by Tempus

PERSHORE, WHERE D'YE THINK ! Compiled by Margaret Bramford.
Another entertaining account of life in a small market town in Worcestershire, in the 1920's and 1930's, as recalled by Pershore folk themselves and also glances backward to earlier times.Contains 32 photos. Price £10. Available from Sedgeberrow Books Pershore Retail Market, Cherry Orchard, Pershore.Worcs. Tel: 01386 751830. e-mail: sales@sedgeberrowbooks.co.uk

DOMESDAY BOOK, a survey of the counties of England, compiled by direction of King William I, 1086: Worcestershire
Phillimore 1982. ISBN 0 85033 161 5
Domesday Book is a statistical survey of England in 1086 AD. It is a census of the population and productive resources of the country, of their value and of who held them. It is difficult to exaggerate the importance to local historians and archaeologists of of the availability of a cheap edition of this fundamental source, for the first time in 900 years.

WORCESTERSHIRE CONTIGUOUS PARISHES (booklet) Allen/Thompson/Chalkley. 1998 ISBN 1 901824 26 8
This guide lists all parishes alphabetically with their adjoining parishes and hopefully will assist researchers to more readily organise their search patterns. (A poor man's Phillimore Atlas & Index?)”

PIGOT & CO'S National Commercial Directory 1835 Facsimile Edition 1996 !SBN 1 898593 15 9
This includes Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Monmouthshire, Rutlandshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, North & South Wales.

WORCESTERSHIRE AT WORK, in old Photographs Author: Ray Jones 1994 ISBN 0 - 7509 - 0703 - 7
Working practices have altered greatly in the last one hundred years, as the photographs in this fascinating selection show....This is not only a book of nostalgia but a valuable insight into the social, rural and industrial history of Worcestershire.

THE DEFENCE OF WORCESTERSHIRE AND THE SOUTHERN APPROACHES TO BIRMINGHAM IN WORLD WAR ll by Mick Wilks.
Logaston Press ISBN 9781904396802. Current cost £14.95.
This book explains the vital role played by Worcestershire in the defence of Britain from invasion. Mr Wilks extensive research into the history of local regiments, including the Home Guard enables him to tell this very interesting story. Maps and photographs show the network of defences that were built in and around the area and add to this very readable book.

THE WORCESTERSHIRE VILLAGE BOOK Worcs. Federation of Women's Institutes 1988 Countryside Books
The members of the village W.I.s have enjoyed researching their village history.Their enthusiasm and interest for this book we hope, will encourage many to come and see for themselves the joy and beauty of Worcestershire.

WORCESTERSHIRE VILLAGES, CHURCHES AND PUBS by Roy Millar - ISBN 0 - 9549455 - 1 - 4
An interesting book showing older parts of the county. All profits from this book go to St.Richards Hospice in Worcester.

WORCESTERSHIRE. by J.S.Leatherbarrow. 1974 ISBN 0 7134 2786 8
No guide could be more sympathetic or better informed than Canon Leatherbarrow. He has lived in Worcestershire for more than 17 years, and in that time has established a pre-eminent reputation as an antiquary.

WARTIME WORCESTERSHIRE. Author Jeff Carpenter. 1995 ISBN 1 85858 058 7
For any who can remember the Second World War it is compulsive reading

THE UNIFORMS OF THE BRITISH YEOMANRY FORCE 1794 - 1914, : Worcestershire Yeomanry
Author: R.J. Smith 1990 ISBN 0 - 9515714 - 2 - 7

NOAKE'S GUIDE TO WORCESTERSHIRE. 1868
John Noake was one of the prolific writers on Worcestershire in the Nineteenth Century, working with the County's archives,newspapers and church papers. In this guide, Noake gives a few paragraphs to each town and village. His comments on the church reflect the main interest of Victorian visitors, as well as offering the possibility of tea in the vicarage! Remember that developments in the techniques of historical and archaeological research and the availabilty of many more documents in recent times has rendered some of the information doubtful or incorrect. But Noake has an interesting style and his writing is worth reading. Out of print now but sometimes available on the second hand market.

A LAD OF EVESHAM VALE         1974    ISBN 0 340 18623 2
A COUNTRY TWELVEMONTH        1992    ISBN 07509 - 0268 - X
The TIBBLESTONE HUNDRED      1996    ISBN 0 - 7509 - 1256 - 1
and other books by Fred Archer. “the native raconteur par excellence, connecting the generations with racy loops of storytelling, and bringing to robust life a rural world which post-Second World War changes might seem to have buried for ever.

CHAPTERS IN NEWENTS HISTORY by Newent Local History Society. ISBN 0 - 9544648 - 0 - X
This excellent quality hard back book was written by several members who have resaearched different areas of Newent's History The book covers over 500 years of buildings, transport, industries and people with family trees and photographs. There are hundreds of names mentioned so another must for the family historian with links to the area just over the county border. The price is £14.95 plus p&p. For further details email Administrator

ELGAR THE CYCLIST - A CREATIVE ODYSSEY by Kevin Allen. ISBN 0620 350318 Paperback.
Elgar the cyclist in and around Malvern. A great composer, a noble form of transport and a wonderful part of the country - what a combination!
So says Eddie Thomas one of our members who recommended this book. Would you believe that he is a keen cyclist!
Can be obtained on line from the Elgar Shop at www.elgarfoundation.org.uk for £4.95.

THE CHATEAU AT IMPNEY. by Barbara Middlemas. 2009 ISBN 0 9510463 1- 4
A short history of the house originally known as Impney Hall in the parish of Dodderhill, now the Chateau Impney Hotel, and surrounding estate.

DOWN THE SEVERN. Francis Frith Collection. 2000 ISBN 1- 85937-118- 3
This evocative collection of archive photographs from the world famous Francis Frith Collection shows the Severn and its nearby towns and villages from mid-Victorian times, and depicts the considerable changes they have undergone during the twentieth century.