Kellys Directory 1886

Supplied thanks to Paul Best transcribed thanks to Lisa Britton

GREAT BADMINTON is a parish and village, 8 miles east from Yate station on the Bristol and Birmingham section of the Midland railway, 6 east from Chipping Sodbury, 11 north-west from Chippenham, 15 north-east from Bath and in the Southern division of the county, Grumbalds Ash hundred, Chipping Sodbury union and county court district, Sodbury petty sessional division, rural deanery of Hawkesbury, archdeanconry of Bristol and diocese of Gloucester and Bristol. The church of St Michael, a modern building of stone in the Classic style, consecrated in 1783, consists of chancel, nave of four bays, aisles and a western tower containing 3 bells: it has a highly enriched ceiling and handsome monuments to former dukes and other members of the Beaufort family: in July 1855, Field-Marshal Lord Raglan, who died in the Crimea, June 28, 1855, during the siege of Sebastopol, was buried here: the chancel was added in 1875, and a fine marble monument to the first Duke of Beaufort, who died January 21, 1699, has been transferred here from the Beaufort chapel at Windsor Castle, where it was originally placed: the font is of beautiful veined marble: there are 250 sittings. The register dates from the year 1538. The living is a donative vicarage, gross yearly value £150, with residence, in the gift of the Duke of Beaufort K.G. and held since 1880 by the Rev. George Henry Ford B.A. of Trinity College, Dublin. There are almshouses for six poor men or women, erected and endowed by Mary, first Duchess of Beaufort, in 1705, and partly supported by a yearly rent of £94 charged on the estates of the Duke of Beaufort: each inmate receives 3s 6d per week and fuel. In 1882 a reading room was erected here by the Duke for the benefit of his workpeople, tenantry and others, honorary members being admitted at a higher charge: the institution is now self-supporting and is also used as a lecture room for religious purposes one day in each week during the winter months. Badminton House, the principal seat of his Grace the Duke of Beaufort K.G., P.C. is a large and noble building in the classic style, situated at the southern extremity of a park, consisting of about 1,500 acres: it was purchased by the Beaufort family from the Botelers towards the close of the 16^th century, but has been much altered, enlarged and improved since that time and now consists of three sides of a square, facing respectively east, north and west; to the east side is attached the church, to the west the extensive stabling and other necessary buildings: the house contains several large and well-proportioned state rooms, the walls of which are adorned with valuable oil paintings by the old masters, and elaborate wood carvings executed by Grinling Gibbons; the entrance hall is a noble and highly-decorated apartment looking northward and affording from the principal entrance a grand and extensive view; a spacious lawn lies in the foreground; beyond, a wide avenue of beech trees nearly 3 miles in length, at the end of which is distinctly seen the lofty dome of the Worcester lodge; the park is well timbered, principally with oak and elm trees, some of which are of very large dimensions, including two celebrated oaks, the “Fitzherbert” and “Duchess;” large herds of red and fallow deer quietly roam or rest beneath the shade of their widely spreading branches, the whole forming a picture truly noble and magnificent: the kennels are situated at a short distance from the mansion and have been very much improved by the present duke: new stables containing 60 boxes and 20 stalls were erected in 1884. The Duke of Beaufort K.G., P.C. is lord of the manor and sole landowner. The soil is various; the subsoil is oolite. The chief crops are wheat, barley, oats and roots. The area is 1,764 acres; rateable value £2,641. The population is 1881 was 489.

Parish Clerk, James Lawes

Post, M.O. & T.O., S. B. and Annuity and Insurance Office (Sub-Office. Letters should have S.O. Gloucestershire added). Miss Anna Brooks, Postmistress. Letters arrive at 4.40 a.m.; the North mail arrives at 9 a.m. & the London mail at 4.30 p.m.; dispatched for London & all parts at 9 a.m.; for the North only at 5.15 p.m. & for London & all parts at 8.20 p.m. Money orders issued and paid from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. Telegraph office open 8 to 8.

National Endowed School (mixed) built in 1705 and a south wing added in 1876, for 100 children: average attendance, 98 & supported by the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort; Henry Nicholls, master; Miss Emily Vellacott, mistress. Six girls are clothed and educated from the charity of Mary, first Duchess of Beaufort, charged on the estates.

Conveyance.- Omnibus to Chippenham, daily, at 9 a.m.

Carriers:- Higgs, to Chipping Sodbury, mon, wed, & fri

Mrs Hannah Pitt, to Bath from Luckington, on sat., returning the same day

John Goldring, to Yate station from Sherston, on thurs. at 10a.m. returning

same day

Andrews Thomas, from Sherston & Luckington to Yate on mon. & sat.

returning same day

Beaufort, Duke of K.G., P.C., J.L., J.P (lord lieutenant of Monmouthshire), Badminton house, Troy house, near Monmouth, Llangattock Park, Brecon; & 9 Cleveland Row; and Carlton club s.w. & Turf club w.London

Worcester Marquess of D.L., J.P., Badminton House

Ford Rev, George Henry B.A. (vicar)

COMMERCIAL

Butler Harry, farmer, Badminton frm

Cole Sl. & Jsph, carpenters and undertakers

Cole Charles Flower, grocer and draper

Cross William, tailor

Davis Joseph, brewer, Portcullis Hotel

Dix Elizabeth (Mrs), baker

Hamblin Charles, huntsman to the Duke of Beaufort

Head David, house steward to the Duke of Beaufort

Lloyd Elizh (Mrs.) preparatory school

Lloyd Richard William, estate clerk to the Duke of Beafort and sec. to the Badminton Farmers’ Club

Nash William, Head Gardener to the Duke of Beaufort

Nicholls Hy, schoolmast. and assist.overseer

Reading Room (Rev. George Henry Ford B.A. sec)

Royal Gloucestershire Hussars (Yeomanry Cavalry) (D. Troop) (Captain H.E.B. Somerset; Sergeant Major Avery, Drill Instructor)

Russell Elijah, blacksmith and farrier

Watts Sarah (Mrs.) shopkeeper

Thompson John, land agent & steward to the Duke of Beaufort

Tucker Richard, farm bailiff to the Duke of Beaufort

Walker James, stud groom to the Duke of Beaufort

York George, clerk of the works to the Duke of Beaufort