Wilstead or Wilshamstead is an Ancient Parish in the county of Bedfordshire. WILSHAMSTEAD (formerly called WILLIAM STEAD) is a village and parish, 4 miles south from Bedford, 5 north from Ampthill, and 54 by rail viâ Bedford, from London, and 46 by road, on the main road to Luton, in the hundred of Redbornestoke, union and county court district of Bedford, rural deanery and archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Ely1.
Alternative names: Wilshamstead, Willshamstead, Wilshampstead, William-Stead.
Parish church: All Saints
Parish registers begin:
- Parish registers: 1593
- Bishop’s Transcripts: 1602
Nonconformists include: Wesleyan Methodist
Table of Contents
Adjacent Parishes
Parish History
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870
WILSHAMPSTEAD, or Wilstead, a parish, with a village, in the district and county of Bedford; on the Midland railway, 4 miles S of Bedford. It has a post-office under Bedford. Acres, 3,027. Real property, £4,604. Pop. in 1851, 923; in 1861, 1,032. Houses, 216. The property is divided chiefly among five. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Ely. Value, £400. Patron, the Rev. Lord John Thynne. The church was repaired and enlarged in 1851. There are a Wesleyan chapel, an endowed school with £20 a year, and charities £11.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
Parish Records
FamilySearch
Directories
The Post Office Directory of Bedfordshire 1869
WILSHAMSTEAD (formerly called WILLIAM STEAD) is a village and parish, 4 miles south from Bedford, 5 north from Ampthill, and 54 by rai,l viâ Bedford, from London, and 46 by road, on the main road to Luton, in the hundred of Redbornestoke, union and county court district of Bedford, rural deanery and archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Ely.
There is National school for boys and girls, partly endowed and by voluntary contributions of the parishioners; also a chapel for Wesleyans which was erected in the year 1846.
Parish Clerk, Joseph Masters
National School, James Herbert, master; Charlotte Herbert, mistress
CARRIERS:-
Thomas Daniel, to Lovell’s coal wharf, Bedford, saturday
Benjamin Gilbert, to Luton, friday
George Rogers, to Horse & Jockey, Bedford, daily, except thursday
Passy Rev Frederic Charles George B.A. J.P. [vicar] Vicarage
COMMERCIAL
Armstrong John farmer
Arnold George beer retailer
Bennett Jonathan shopkeeper
Bennett Joseph farmer
Burr Joseph & Charles farmers
Bushby Henry shopkeeper
Cherry Joseph carpenter
Cousins Joseph tailor
Cox Frederick Red Lion & baker
Crowsley Charles beer retailer
Crowsley Thomas cattle dealer
Dynes Thomas farmer & corn dealer
Gilbert Hannah Mrs poulterer
Groom John beer retailer
Hallworth Jonathan farmer & corn dlr
Hibbs Samuel beer retailer
McDonald John farmer Manor farm
Newman Thomas farmer
Nottingham Wm Carpenters Arms
Peacock Joseph farmer
Peacock Samuel farmer
Phipps Thomas grocer & draper
Potter Levi boot & shoe maker
Quenby George farmer
Quenby Thomas baker
Robinson David farmer & cattle dealer
Robinson Joseph poor rates collector
Simms Joseph butcher
Smith John tailor
Taylor Henry blacksmith
Toll Samuel carpenter
Travis Edward wheelwright & beer rtlr
Tuffnail Charles blacksmith
Tuffnail George blacksmith
Whitemore Joseph farmer
Willmer William Thomas draper & grocer
Willis Mary Mrs Black Hat
Willis Mary Ann Mrs farmer
Source: The Post office directory of Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire By Kelly’s directories, ltd 1869
Maps
| Service | Map | Topo |
|---|---|---|
| Bing Maps UK | Map | OS maps |
| StreetMap | Map | OS maps |
| Vision of Britain historical maps | Map | OS maps |
| Ordnance Survey | OS maps | |
| Defra’s MAGIC service | Map | |
| National Library of Scotland | OS maps | |
| Old OS maps | OS maps | |
| Old-maps.co.uk | OS plans | |
| Where’s the Path? | Map | |
| SABRE Maps | Map | OS maps |
Administration
- County: Bedfordshire
- Civil Registration District: Bedford
- Probate Court: Court of the Archdeaconry of Bedford
- Diocese: Pre-1837 – Lincoln, Post-1836 – Ely
- Rural Deanery: Bedford
- Poor Law Union: Bedford
- Hundred: Redbornestoke
- Province: Canterbury
1. The Post office directory of Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire By Kelly’s directories, ltd 1869