Hammerwich

Hammerwich (Over and Nether) ‘Duae Humerwich: Bishop of Chester before and after 1066. Hall and windmill’. [The Domesday Book, England’s Heritage Then and Now]. 1086      The village of Hammerwich is listed in the Doomsday survey. The old church is not mentioned but it had Anglo-Saxon features, which indicates that it probably existed before Norman times.

In 1286, known as ‘Humerwich’’ (building with a smithy) [The Oxford Names Companion]

Hammerwich chapelry became part of Lichfield Union following the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834.

"Hammerwich is a village, township, and chapelry (of Lichfield), on the south-eastern verge of Cannock Chase, three miles SW by W of Lichfield. It has a station on the South Staffordshire Railway, and contains 239 inhabitants, and 1000 acres of enclosed land, and upwards of 900 acres of open common in Cannock Chase. The Marquis of Anglesey is lord of the manor, but the enclosed lands belong to about a dozen freeholders, most of whom are residents. In 1850, the Marquis opened a colliery here, and extended to it a branch from the canal." - “Saint John the Baptist Church is a very ancient structure, standing on a verdant eminence”. [From History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire, William White, Sheffield, 1851]

Hammerwich (St. John), parish in the union of Lichfield, S. division of the hundred of Offlow and the county of Stafford, 2 miles (S.W. by S.) from Lichfield; containing 239 inhabitants. The parish which is on the south-eastern verge of Cannock Chase, comprises of about 2000 acres, of which about half is unenclosed common, and the remainder mostly arable, with some pasture and meadow. It stands elevated; the soil is very good, and the scenery extensive and beautiful, embracing views of several counties, with Lichfield Cathedral and fourteen churches. There is an excellent stone-quarry, the property of William Middleton, Esq., which supplied the material in the restoration of the cathedral just mentioned. The manufacture of nails is carried out to a small extent. The Wyrley and Essington canal passes through the parish. The living is a perpetual curacy, net income, £70; patrons, certain trustees; appropriators, the Dean and the Chapter of Lichfield. The church is a small structure, standing alone upon a verdant eminence: the rent of five houses and about nine acres of land, amounting to upwards of £30 per annum, is appropriated to keeping the edifice in repair. A Sunday school is in connexion with the church; and there are various benefactions for the poor of the parish. [Samuel Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1859]

Hammerwich, a chapelry in Lichfield-St. Michael parish, Stafford; on the south-eastern verge of Cannock chase, on the Wyrley and Essington canal, and on the South Stafford railway, 3 miles WSW of Lichfield. It has a station on the railway; and its post town is Lichfield. Real property, £3,213. Pop. in 1851, 270; in 1861, 991. Houses, 198. The increase of population arose mainly from the opening of new coalmines. The manor belongs to the Marquis of Anglesey.—The chapelry was reconstituted within narrower limits in 1860. Pop. in 1861, 530. Houses, 101. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Lichfield. Value, £250. Patrons, Certain Trustees. The church is old, but tolerable; and there are charities £34. A mausoleum of the Ashmalls is near the church. [John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales 1870 - 1872]

Saint John the Baptist Church was rebuilt in 1873, in stone, in the Early English style and consists of a chancel, nave of three bays, north aisle, west porch and an embattled western tower with spire, containing a clock and bell. A vestry was added in 1883. (Saint John the Baptist Church History)

 

Was your ancestor a coal miner living in Hammerwich in 1881? You may find him on Hammerwich census 1881 as translated by Webster Genealogy

In July 2009 Terry Herbert unearthed in a field in Hammerwich, the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found. The collection is in excess of 1,500 pieces and there is approximately 5 kg of gold and 2.5 kg of silver. It probably belonged to Saxon royalty. Read about the Hammerwich (Staffordshire) Hoard on our website

Learn about the history of Hammerwich with British History Online

See how Hammerwich looked in 1987 with British History Online

Read about the history of Speedwell Mill in Hammerwich

The Church of England website for John the Baptist Church

Staffordshire Record Office holds the Bishops Transcripts for Saint John the Baptist Church (1727 – 1865) with gaps 1735 to 1738 and 1743 to 1744

A voluntary Look-up exchange by Kaye Christian is provided for Saint John the Baptist Church Registers, Baptisms (1724 – 1790), Banns (1826 – 1832), Marriage Registers (1724 – 1970) and Burial Registers (1826 – 1832) and Monumental Inscriptions

Staffordshire Record Office holds the original registers for Saint John the Baptist Church Baptisms (1724 – 1967), Marriage (1724 – 1950) and Burial (1724 – 1950)

The B F H G has transcribed Saint John the Baptist registers for the period (1724 - 1812) and they are available to buy from us on CD

The B F H G has photographed and transcribed all the names on the Hammerwich War Memorial

Paupers in need of assistance from Hammerwich would have been examined and assessed, and if they met the criteria, they would have been admitted to Lichfield Workhouse. Learn a little of the history of the Lichfield Workhouse