The earliest mention of the Beech family is in 1800 with the baptism of one of the children of Edward and Mary Beech who lived in Fradley with their 5 children. Edward was 82 years old when he died in 1845. It was very much a farming family. Thomas J. Beech farmed 83 acres at Bridge Farm, George Beech farmed 70 acres at Hilliards Cross and Frank Beech was named as a dairy mixed famer at Bears Haye Cottage. Many generations of the family lived in and around Fradley. The family married into the Arblaster family who still own Bridge Farm. The earliest gravestone in St. Stephens Church commemorates William (died 1874 aged 9 months), Mary (died 1877 15 years) and John (died 1883 3 years), the children of George and Elizabeth Beech. There are another 8 gravestones attributed to the Beech family. At least 6 family members lived to over 80 years old!
Fradley Heritage Group
