Old Chelsworth

In Words and Pictures

THE 1870 SURVEY OF THE VILLAGE

THE PEOPLE

THEIR HOMES

THEIR LIVES

This is the first of a series of pieces about a delightful Suffolk village, whose documented history goes back to the year 962 AD. Other websites will describe walks around the village and tell stories of the people, the buildings and the landscape of Chelsworth - I suggest that, for starters, you try www.chelsworth.org.uk.

For a full history of the village, though, you should get hold of Geoffrey Pocklington’s book "Chelsworth – The Story of a Little Suffolk Village", a new extended and fully illustrated version of which was published a few years ago. To find out more, e-mail Bernard Quinlan on bernard@oldchelsworth.org.uk.

In 1870, a survey was made of the population and homes of the whole of Chelsworth. As part of this process, photographs were taken of every house and cottage in the village, and every resident was listed. The results were recorded in a pre-printed and bound ledger.

In "snapshot" form, the archive records the state of the community in a unique way which helps us to understand the patterns of family life and housing at that point in time. Together with the census carried out just a few months later - in April 1871 - which records the origins and occupations of the residents, it provides us with a good picture of life in those days, whereby we who live in Chelsworth at the close of the following century can contrast our own circumstances with those of our predecessors.

Now browse through the survey itself and read the results of our investigation of its origins and of the information we have built up of Chelsworth’s families of that time.

·         Houses and Households – the index to the survey pages containing pictures and family details

·         Key Families and Family Trees – fifteen (and more) Chelsworth surnames

·         Commentary – an overview of the village people at this time

As you go through these pages, click on underlined names to access the relevant pages.  NOTE that a red link points to the family tree of the household, while a blue link points to the dwelling where the household lives.

  WELCOME !

When you have finished browsing, do please e-mail me with any comments or questions. I would particularly welcome any further information about the "key families", and any queries about your family roots in Chelsworth.  

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For another glimpse of Chelsworth’s past, please read my essay on Chelsworth’s lost railways.

And to learn about Chelsworth today, visit the village website on http://www.chelsworth.co.uk/