Pavenham

High Street, Pavenham c.1912 [Z1306/87/1/11] 

We have not yet been able to compile comprehensive history pages for Pavenham, although we do have two pages currently available: 

• Stafford Bridge

• Garden Crime in Pavenham

If you would like to carry out research and contribute to this site we would be delighted to hear from you.  

Pavenham was formerly a Chapelry of Felmersham and is located 6 miles north-west of Bedford. Bedfordshire Archives holds many documents relating to the parish; a search of our online catalogue with Pavenham as the subject returns approximately 3400 items. Significant collections for researching people or places in Pavenham include:  

• P68: Records for the parish of St Peter, including: registers of baptisms, marriages and burials; records relating to church property; account books of overseers of the poor; settlement and removal papers; apprenticeship indentures. 

• PCPavenham: Parish council minutes  

• MA27: Award map  

• MC1/5/0/1: Books of reference to the first edition OS plans 

• MB2/PAV: Pavenham Methodist Church (Wesleyan) 

• SDPavenham Pavenham School [Church, Public Elementary, Council, CP, Lower] 

• SMM48: School Manager’s records, Pavenham Lower School (closed 1983) 

• ABP/W: Wills proved in the Archdeaconry of Bedford, 1536-1857  

• QSR: Quarter Sessions Records for Bedfordshire from 1714-1900. A search combining Pavenham as the subject and QSR as the reference will find criminal cases in which the parish is mentioned.   

• AL: Joseph Tucker Burton Alexander estate deeds (Pavenham Bury) 

• Li/SA2: County Librarian's Correspondence and papers 1926-1940 

• SF45: Swaffield & Son, auctioneers and estate agents, Ampthill 

• WE594-600: Webber and Williams of Ampthill, solicitors. Various properties in Great Barford & Pavenham 

• X98/32-201: Deeds etc., of the Green family of Felmersham, (Messrs Green, Coal and Timber Merchants, Bedford) 

• X939/26: Pavenham Women's Institute 

• Z1079: Collection of linocut prints & drawings of Pavenham by the Bedfordshire actor and artist Frank Mayes 

• Z1328: Arch of Pavenham Collection (family papers, not yet catalogued) 

• Z50/87 and Z50/142: Photographs of Pavenham and inhabitants 

• Z1130/87: Postcards with pictures of Pavenham  

• Z1306/87: Postcards with pictures of Pavenham  

Further details of these items can be found through our online catalogue. Our detailed collection guides give more information about the types of records we hold.   

Other useful sources for information about Pavenham include:  

• Victoria County History entry for Pavenham, available through British History Online. Although published in 1912 most of the information is still relevant.   

• The National Archives' Manorial Documents Register lists all manorial documents known to survive for the manors of Pavenham, Pavenham (Derby) and Pavenham (Tyrrell). 

• Open Domesday lists 3 entries for Pavenham in the Domesday Book of 1086.  

Copies of the parish registers listing baptisms, marriages and burials up to 1812 can be purchased from Bedfordshire Archives.  

We offer an enquiry and research service, however this is limited to local history, properties and general subjects; we are no longer able to carry out genealogy research.