BELBROUGHTON - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"BELBROUGHTON, a parish and village in the lower division of the hundred of Halfshire, in the county of Worcester, 5½ miles to the E. of Kidderminster, and 5 S. of Stourbridge, its post town and railway station. It is watered by a small stream, and includes the hamlets of Brian's Bell, Broomhill, Fairfield, and Hartle. The manufacture of scythes, hay-knives, and other descriptions of edge tools is extensively carried on at this place, one firm having been established upwards of a century.

The living is a rectory* in the diocese of Worcester, in the patronage of the President and Fellows of St. John's College, Oxford. The church, an old stone building, is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The altar-place in the chancel is paved with encaustic tiles. The Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists have chapels. There is a National school with an endowment of about £10 a year, and other charities producing about £24. Fairs are held here on the 30th bray and the 26th September for cattle, horses, cheese, &c.; the latter day is also a statute fair for hiring servants. The parish southward is hilly, but generally fertile, and the usual proportion in pasture."

"BELL-END, a hamlet in the about 1 mile N.E. of the village of Belbroughton. It is situated under the Clent hills, about 4 miles to the south of Stourbridge railway station. Here are the ruins of an ancient chapel. Bell Hall is the principal residence."

"BRIAN'S BELL, a hamlet in the parish of Belbroughton, and hundred of Halfshire, in the county of Worcester, 4 miles to the S. of Stourbridge."

"FAIRFIELD MANOR, a hamlet in the parish of Belbroughton, county Worcester, 3 miles N. of Bromsgrove. Besides the above places there are many private seats, in-England, Scotland, and Ireland, bearing the name of Fairfield."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]