Baddesley Ensor is a former mining village situated about 7 miles from Nuneaton and 2½ miles from Atherstone.  There were mining activities in the area for centuries before the two main shafts, which formed Baddesley Colliery, were sunk in 1850.  Although called Baddesley Colliery it was actually just over the border in Baxterley. From then on until 1989 when the pit closed most Baddesley men worked in some capacity at the mine.  The worst disaster at the mine occurred on 2^nd May 1882.  There was a fire followed by an explosion and 23 men lost their lives in attempting to rescue 9 nightshift workers trapped by the fire. A memorial to all the men who worked in the mines, in the form of a pit head winding wheel was erected on the common on the site of the old Maypole pit, opposite to the Maypole Inn. (See photo)  Since the closure of the mine the village is now mainly residential. Baddesley Ensor is also famous for its common (see photo).  There are beautiful views to be seen looking over towards Birmingham and also Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire. 

CHURCHES
Parish church of St Nicholas, built in 1846 to replace the earlier Norman Church (See article). The church was formerly in the Lichfield diocese but is now in the Birmingham diocese.

 Methodist Chapel, Keys Hill, closed 1996. This was formerly the Quaker's meeting house.  By 1837 this movement had declined in popularity and the Wesleyans rented the meeting house from them to use as their chapel and Sunday school.  At the turn of the century they, now known as Methodists, purchased the chapel and built a new one, which was connected to the old one by an interconnecting door.  During the 19^th century and into the 20^th the non-conformist chapels thrived.  But over the years interest dwindled and in 1996 the two chapels were merged.  The Methodist chapel was sold to a private buyer.

Congregationalist Chapel, Keys Hill, now Trinity Church. This was founded by John Dagley who came from nearby Hartshill.  The first meetings were held in a cottage in the village before the present chapel was built in 1847.  There was a burial plot at the rear but this became full in the 1920s and from then on burials had to be in the St Nicholas graveyard.  It was later known as the United Reform church.   In 1996 it merged with the Methodist and is now known as the Trinity church.  In the year 2000 refurbishment was carried out.  A new porch was built and toilets and a kitchen were added.  They now have a thriving congregation.

 POOR LAW   Under the Atherstone Union.

RECORDS

Parish Registers:  Bap: 1688-1965    Mar: 1688-1938    Bur: 1688-1875

Copies of Registers held at Warwick County Record Office and also on microfilm at Atherstone library.

Non- conformist Registers:  Held at Warwick Record office.  Some records on the IGI

Bishop's Transcripts:  1676-1875 (gaps) At  Lichfield,  1867-1877 (gaps) At Warwick

IGI:    Has christenings and marriages 1688 to 1875 but no deaths.

Most libraries have copies of the IGI for the whole country.

The IGI is now online at www.familysearch.org.  This has recently been updated and now includes some later records and also some burials.

Census returns:   1841 to 1901

Atherstone library has copies of the census returns for Baddesley Ensor for 1851 to 1901.

NNWFHS have 1851 and 1881 for Warwickshire for loan or look up.

1881 census for whole of British Isles now online at www.familysearch.org.

Monumental inscriptions:  St Nicholas church on microfiche

Can be purchased from BMSGH

NNWFHS has copy for loan or look-up

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