COUGHTON

The village is just two miles north west of Alcester, and is dominated by Coughton Court, now owned by the National Trust and open to the public. The present house dates from the sixteenth century and was the home of the Throckmorton family from the fifteenth century and much further back through their Spiney and De Cocton ancestors. There are numerous family portraits, royal relics and important archives. Bessie Throckmorton, maid of honour to Elizabeth I secretly married Sir Walter Raleigh in 1592, and this led to their both being sent to the Tower. Later the family was involved in the Gunpowder Plot in that they were closely linked with some of the conspirators. The chemise, said to have been worn by Mary Queen of Scots at her execution, is on show in the House. Coughton is usually pronounced 'Co-ton', the 'Cough' rhyming with 'though'. Kings Coughton, a short distance away, is in the parish of Alcester. Sambourne, a hamlet, was one of the earliest centres for needle making in the seventeenth century.

DIOCESE: Worcester. HUNDRED: Barlichway. UNION: Alcester

ADJOINING PARISHES: Ipsley, Studley, Spernall, Great Alne, Kinwarton, Alcester and in Worcestershire, Inkberrow and Feckenham.

Parish Registers: Christenings: 1673-1964 Marriages: 1677-1952 Burials: 1675-1933 Banns 1769-1896

Bishop's Transcripts : Begin 1616 WOR

IGI: Christenings: 1616-1875, Marriages: 1737-1754 &1769-1876. Widely available; BMSGH(PS)

REGISTER COPIES: C Burials: 1673-1736 Marriages: 1673-1768 SoG BTs 1615-1641,1660-1685 STR

NONCONFORMIST: Roman Catholic: see Source Material and C, M & R Vol.2.
Christenings: 1744-1843 Marriages: 1744-1798 Burials: 1722-1800 MChristenings: 1759-1898.

MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS: Church WAR
Yard ADLHS WAR , WOR , SoG

PROBATE RECORDS: WOR

CENSUS RETURNS: All WAR
1851 BIR
1851 BMSGH SI v12 , SoG , BIR
1851 vXIII (RR) , SoG
1851 (Sambourne) vXII (RR) , SoG
1881 BCP , BMSGH(PS)
Sambourne:1851 BMSGH SI v12
1881 BCP , BMSGH(PS)

INDEXES
Burial 1762-1837
Marriage 1737-1837

MANORIAL RECORDS: 1612, 1483/4-1731 STR 1772-1849 (Sambourne) STR Court Rolls 1746, Sambourne and Court Rolls 1789-1832.
Abstract of grant of manor and of the Court Rolls with an appendix showing the present tenants' names, estates, rents etc. in 1746.

OTHER SOURCES: Map of Throckmorton estate 1695.
Diaries of Sir Charles Throckmorton, Bart., 1781-1818 (7 vols.) and many other diaries and papers.
Plan of estate belonging to Sir Robert Throckmorton by Thomas Thorp, 1756.
There is a collection of Throckmorton papers including deeds of many places in and around Coughton with a name index, at STR
Parish Magazines 1883, 1890-1917.
Coughton Court, G.Winteringham WWM Vol.3 No.8.
Ward collection drawings.
W.I. Scrapbook 1965


[Last updated: 18th March 2013 ]