Cookham Cottagers Horticultural and Industrial Society.

Cookham Cottagers Horticultural and

Industrial Society.

***********************

My researching and memories have taken me back this time to way over a hundred years and the founding of The Cookham Cottagers Horticultural and Industrial Society. The Industrial part in the title goes back to when Boot and Shoe making was a thriving industry in the village.

Over the years it has gradually changed as the Industrial part faded away together with the Horticultural and Farming aspects which branched away on their own. This left just the professional and cottage gardeners who would compete in what became to be known as The Cookham Flower Show.

For many years this show was held under the benevolent auspices of Colonel Ricardo, on a field which is now part of The Odney Club, just off Mill Lane.

Here it remained until the beginning of the Second World War. After which it was moved to Dean Meadow.

In the 1930’s I remember there was very keen competition in the various classes. There was I remember a Professional Gardeners class. One for Cottage and Allotment Holders, who, not only entered their produce, but also entered their gardens and allotments to be judged. The ladies of course entered in the flower arranging and baking skill contests. The school children were not left out as there were classes for wild grasses, wild flowers, all of which had to be arranged and named as well.

To top it off there was the fairground with all the roundabouts and swings. Plus of course Horace Spencer who would entertain the crowd with his card tricks and magic.



Yes! You can have floods in the Summer in Cookham.

 

Yes! You can have floods in the Summer in Cookham.

**********************************

1903 Flood quotation from The London Illustrated News on the 27^th of June, 1903.
 

The Thames Valley presented an extraordinary appearance after the rain; bungalows were isolated, meadow-land, streets and roads, inundated. The river was so high that the steamers were unable to pass the bridges and the stream so powerful that boating became a danger. Eton oarsmen, unable to practise, will probably not be represented at Henley.

This photo is taken of Cookham Moor by the newspaper photographer and in the words of the reporter; “that this scene was between the station and the town.”



 

This photo shows two punts in Ferry Lane right by the Hedsor turning.

 

This is The Moor in Maidenhead showing Cox Brothers Builders Yard to the left.

So you can see that floods do not occur only during the Winter and Spring. With many thanks to the London Illustraded News for the photographs and write up.

You can enlarge the pictures by clicking on them.



A 106 year old Postcard.

A 106 year old Postcard.

************************

The postcard that is shown above has quite a story to tell, not only that it is a hundred and six years old and travelled to London for a one half penny stamp, and yet found its way back to Cookham. It did have a message and address on it which I have removed as it was of a personal nature from one sister to another.

You will see quite clearly that the stamp bears the head of King Edward VII and the date that the card was posted in Cookham at 7.45 p.m. on the 19^th of February, 1907.

More interesting is the card itself, which most likely had a photo of Cookham by William Bailey. That the card itself was published by, W. Shergold & Son of Cookham. Shergold kept the Post Office and little general store on Station Hill. The same store that use to be ironmongers twice and has now reverted to a Stationary Shop. From what I have been told Shergold was quite an ingenious person and it quite possible that had a small printing press where he could make postcards for himself, and for Annie Slack who had a small shop in the High Street. This also points out how resourceful people were then. Even to travel by train to London for most villagers was a major event.

Once again to enlarge the photograph, just click on it.



A quiet summer Sunday afternoon.

A quiet summer Sunday afternoon.

********************************

Another photograph of Cookham high street, this time the photographer chose a quiet summer Sunday afternoon. I think the year was 1949. I also know that this photographer took up the hobby after he had been demobbed from the RAF. It is about this time that I also took up taking photos with a Brownie 127 camera and developing in a tank kit that Boots the Chemist use to sell. It is something to reflect back over those 64 years to now and 2013, the era of digital photography.

To enlarge this photo, just click on the picture.



The Old White Hart Public House.

The Old White Hart Public House.

*******************************

For way over a hundred year this building has been known as the White Hart and like so many public houses, the breweries or new free house owners decide without consultation that a name change is in order. The old White Hart has had two such name changes in the last few years. To a lot of old residents, though it has had a name change, still refer to it as the White Hart. The emblem of the White Hart was adopted as a royal emblem by Richard II for his livery, and an albino Hart Stag was a very rare find in Windsor Great Park, which at one time included Cookham.

I can only conclude that the present owner must be a great fan of Mazo de la Roche who wrote the book, “The White Oaks of Jalna.”



The Second Ferry at Cookham Lock.

The Second Ferry at Cookham Lock.

*********************************

I have mentioned the Three Ferries in this blog before. Here is another photograph attributed to William Bailey. Summer Sunday afternoons were most popular with the village residents to walk the  three ferries and stop off at the lock keepers garden for a cream tea provided by the lock keepers wife. If my memory is correct a tea for three was 1/6 (one shilling and six pence.) That was around 1936-37.

 

Click on the photo to get the enlarged photo.

Cookham from the Moor.

Cookham from the Moor.

************************

This is another photograph attributed to the work of William Bailey who lived at East Flint in the High Street and was a painter and decorator by trade. It is about 115 years since this photo was taken, and before Colonel Ricardo and his Rolls Royce came on the scene. It is good to note that most of the buildings in the picture are still standing today. One hopes that this scene will be preserved for a good many years to come.

 

 

To take a closer look at the photo, just click on it.