Place:Babington, Somerset, England

the text in this section is based on an article in Wikipedia Babington (#1 on map) was a small civil parish with a village of the same name in Somerset, England. It was located between Radstock and Frome. As with other parishes in the immediate area, coal mining occured in the latter half of the 19th century. The village dates from medieval times. Its name derives from the Babington family, who were once associated with the village, but the village appears to have been largely demolished to make way for the manor house around 1705. It is known that the manor was sold by Thomas and Mary Mankham to Joan Elcode, a widow, in a deed dated Easter 1572. The Manor then contained 7 messuages, one cottage, 10 tofts, 1 water mill, 10 gardens, 14 orchards, 300 acres (1,214,057 m2) of land, 120 acres (485,623 m2) of meadow, 160 acres (647,497 m2) of pasture, 20 acres (80,937 m2) of wood, 120 acres (485,623 m2) of furze. The annual rent was 4 shillings and 1 pound (lb) of pepper. The current Babington House was built around 1705 for Henry Mompesson, probably on the foundations of an earlier building. Babington was inherited by successive members of the Knatchbull family until 1952. It is now a hotel. The Georgian architecture house is designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building. For more information, see the EN Wikipedia article Babington House. The church, dedicated to St. Margaret, is believed to have been built in 1748 and is a Grade I listed building. In 1949 the parish was abolished and split between the neighbouring parishes of Kilmersdon (#12) and Coleford (#6).

Historic Descriptions

1822 - Somersetshire Delineated by Christopher and John Greenwood

BABINGTON — a parish in the hundred of Kilmersdon, 6 miles W. N.W. from Frome, containing 37 inhabited houses, and as many families, 8 of whom are employed in agriculture. Babington-House, the residence of Colonel Knatchbull, is pleasantly situated near the church ; and about half a mile to the south-west is Newberry-House, the residence of John Paget, Esq. The church is a neat edificej dedicated to St. Margaret, and was built in 1750. The living is a rectory, in the deanery of Frome, Rev. Thos. R. Jolliffe, incumbent; instituted 1810. Population, 1801, 215 — 1811, 176 — 1821, 156.

1875 - Somersetshire edited by Edward Robert Kelly

BABINGTON is a straggling parish, 121 miles from London, 3 north-west from Radstock Railway station, and 5½ west-north-west from Frome railway station, 12 north-east from Bath, in the Eastern division of the county, Kilmersdon hundred, Frome union and county conrt district, Frome rural deanery, Wells archdeaconry, diocese of Bath and Wells, and Canterbury province. The church of St. Margaret is a modern stone building: it has a chancel nave, round tower with 1 bell, and a porch. The register dates from 1725. The living is a rectory, annual value £175, in the gift of Lord Hylton, of Ammerdown Park, and held by the Rev. John Edwin Sandys, M.A., of Christ Church, Oxford. There is a district school at Coleford, at which the Babington children attend. Mrs. Long's charity of £15 yearly is for purposes of education. Coal is worked in the parish by the Vobster Coal Company. Babington House, the residence of Captain Wyndham Knatchbull, J.P., is an ancient mansion, and has been in the possession of this family for upwards of 130 years: it is pleasantly situated near the church, surrounded by handsome lawn with parterres : there are two entrances, one on the north, through a beautiful wood, by which the house is sheltered, and the other by a carriage drive: it is the property of the Rev. Wadham Knatchbull, who is lord of the manor and chief landowner. The land is principally pasturage for dairy purposes. The soil is lower lias clay; the subsoil is limestone and bastard freestone. The acreage is 607; rateable value, £1,618; the population in 1871 was 154.

1929 - Somerset by George Woosung Wade & Joseph Henry Wade

Babington, 1 m. S. of Mells Road station. There is no village. The church dates from the reign of George II. Babington House is a mansion of some age but little beauty.

Research Tips

Online Transcriptions

• Babington Baptisms 1725-1804
• Babington Baptisms 1804-1812
• Babington Baptisms 1813-1991

• Babingtom Marriages 1725-1753
• Babingtom Marriages 1754-1812
• Babingtom Marriages 1813-1836
• Babingtom Marriages 1837-1911
• Babingtom Marriages 1911-1989

• Babington Burials 1725-1804
• Babington Burials 1804-1812
• Babington Burials 1813-1992

Old Maps

• Ordnance Survey 1:10560 County Series 1st edition (c.1884-87) Sheet 30 Subsheet 08
• Ordnance Survey 1:10560 County Series 2nd edition (c.1900) Sheet 30 Subsheet 08

Family History Catalog

• Computer printout of Babington, Somerset, England
• Bishop's transcripts, 1606-1812
• Land tax assessments for Babington, 1766-1831
• Poor law records, 1729-1850
• Census returns for Babington, 1841-1891
• Bishop's transcripts, 1606-1828
• Parish registers, 1725-1900

Other Resources

• Somerset Record Office
• Somerset Archives holdings for Parish of 'Babington'
• Frome Registration District Research Guide
• Babington at Wikipedia

Picture Gallery

Charity lane