The Keeley Cottages.
*********************
I often wonder if new residents to Cookham know the history behind the house that they now call home. This is the story about a family that were very much involved in the cottage industry of boot and shoe making, which were not only sold locally but found their way to the fashion houses of London.
Such is the story of John Keeley who seemed to have moved from Clewer near Windsor, after marrying his wife Ellen in 1831. From what I can gather they had about ten children, and as in those days some of them died at a very tender age. There was one son Edward who followed into his fathers business having been born in 1838. When John Keeley died in 1896. Ted took over the business according to the census of 1901.
Ted was a very devoted Christian and a regular attendee at Holy Trinity Church and also a very enthusiastic and dedicated bell ringer. He was the driving force in forming what is now known as the East Berks and South Bucks Branch of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers.
When he died at the age of 93 he was at that time the oldest resident of the village he was buried in his beloved churchyard to the sound of an half muffled peal from the then six ring of bells. He would I am sure, be pleased to know that there are now ten bells in the tower.
He was by all events a very early riser and the expression he was well known for when greeting village folk after seven a.m. “Yes! It’s been a nice day.”
With many thanks to Velma Dinkley, who supplied me with some of this information.
4 comments:
i would like to contact you by email or meet
i was at the mill studio since 1974
also have some pics of amy haggerty spencer
and would like to chat about history of cookham
regards
stuart
email
stuartepps@talk21.com
www.stuartepps.com
We lived in Cookham for 26 years and were always fascinated by Keeley Cottage as my mother's maiden name was Keeley. However, we came from Eastcote, Middlesex. I have just found a scroll drawn up by my grandfather with a list of our ancestors, mentioning that some lived in Cookham in the mid 19th century. I need to go through it better, but it seems very likely that we are descended from this John Keeley (especially as my uncle was called John) There is a mention of Edward son of J+E in Cookham in 1838, though I don't know if this is a birth date or census date. I suspect the latter. Fascinating!
Hi Janea57
I am also related to the Keeley's from London & also from Cookham, plus being related to John Keeley & Ellen.... Be good to hear from you about the amily...
Kaz
Hi Janea57
I am also related to the Keeley's from London & also from Cookham, plus being related to John Keeley & Ellen.... Be good to hear from you about the amily...
Kaz
Post a Comment