Nearby Places

Nearby churches

WILSTEAD

WILSHAMPSTEAD, a parish in the hundred of REDBORNESTOKE, county of BEDFORD, 4 miles (S. by E.) from Bedford, containing 749 inhabitants. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Lincoln, rated in the king’s books at £9.9.7., and in the patronage of Lord Carteret. The church is dedicated to All Saints. There is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. A small charity school here is endowed with about five acres and a half of land.

[A Topographical Dictionary of England - Samuel Lewis - 1831]

Known as Wilstead, Wilshampstead, Wylhamsted or Willshamstead

The 1851 Census Index for Wilstead can be found in the 1851 Index to Census of Bedfordshire, Volume 2, Book 2 available from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.

Church History

Church of England

The church of All Saints is an edifice of stone in the Early English, Decorated and Perpendicular styles, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, south porch and an embattled western tower containing 2 bells: the hammer-beam roof is a fine example, and richly carved: there is a very ancient font and a piscina, and in the north aisle is a brass, with the effigy of a priest, and an inscription in Latin; in 1873 the chancel was entirely rebuilt, and organ chamber and vestry erected, and the nave restored and re-seated, at a cost of about £1,800. The register dates from the year 1594.

[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898

Non-conformist

Here is a Wesleyan chapel.

[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]

Church Records

Church of England

The parish record transcripts for All Saints are available on microfiche for the period 1594-1812 from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.

Genealogy

• The BURR family who lived for many generations throughout the 18th & 19th Centuries in Wilstead. The family originated in nearby Pulloxhill but the present generations can be found both in Wilstead and in the U.S.A.

• A local history book on the village of Wilstead has been written and.there is a website where this book can be ordered www.wilsteadbook.freeuk.com. - contact Christine Papworth, email address wilsteadbook@ntlworld.com

Military History

• The BFHS Project in conjunction with Roll of Honour contains the Wilstead War Memorial transcription for WW1 and WW2 with details of the men found on it

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[Last updated 16 March 2003 Martin Edwards]