Cookham Manor now in Didcot

The Railway has been part of Cookham since the 1850's.

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It was while searching through files on the history of Cookham Manor that I came across this article and photo of Manor Class 7808 engine of the GWR. Also it has been retired as a working model of this class in Didcot. Here are some of the history and facts provided by the Great Western Railway Preservation Society, to who we are most grateful.

As long ago as 1901 the traffic department of the Great Western asked for this type of locomotive. It was a very long time in coming, although the 'Halls' and 'Granges' filled the need except that they suffered route restrictions due to their heavier weight.
The first twenty 'Manors', built before world war two, incorporated the wheels and motion of withdrawn 43XX class engines. The last ten were built by BR in 1950. The 'Manors' were originally allocated to various English depots, but in 1943 several were transferred to the North Wales area, being the first modern passenger engines seen there.
Detail design modifications over the years have greatly improved the performance of the class. Their light weight makes them ideal for use in preservation: no fewer than eight have survived.
7808 is the only 'Manor' obtained directly on withdrawal by BR. Bought by a Society member in 1965, it ran from Gloucester depot in steam to Ashchurch, where it was based with 6697, until they both came to Didcot in 1970. A very sprightly member of its class and held in high regard by crews, before withdrawal it had, very unusually for its class, been fitted with a larger 4,000 gallon tender. 'Cookham Manor' has seen considerable main line use on special trains organised by the Society, but currently has 'static' preservation status.

Frank Sherwin Watercolour Artist

Frank Sherwin Watercolour and Poster Artist.

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Frank Sherwin was born in Derby on 19 May 1896, the son of Samuel Sherwin, a prominent member of Derby Sketching Club. He studied at Derby School of Art and then from 1920 the Heatherleys School of Fine Art in Chelsea.
He was a painter of landscape and marine views in both oils and watercolour, but specialised in the latter.
He was best known for his railway posters, promoting travel by rail to holiday destinations all over the British Isles. A member of The Royal Society of British Artists and the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, he lived in Cookham on the River Thames for 46 years until his death in 1986. He was as I remember him a very quiet and unasuming man, who was devoted to his family and his art.
He exhibited his prolific work regularly in London between 1926 and 1947, and was shown at The Royal Academy, and the Arlington Gallery, as well as The Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, among others. Derby Art Gallery have examples of his paintings. Not as well known as Sir Stanley Spencer maybe, but his work was viewed by millions who travelled the country by train, enticing them to take a holiday at one resort or other. During the war I believe his water colour production was used in many Wartime Posters but, I cannot substansiate this fact. I do know though, that he was an advisor to the War Office on camouflarge of airfields in East Anglia.

James Mason

Film Actor: James Mason.

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There are not many people that are aware of this fact living in Cookham today, will know that the late James Mason was once a resident in Cookham Dean.

He was born on the 15th of May 1909 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire and died of a heart attack on the 27th of July 1984 at his home in Lausanne, Switzerland.

He was a wartime resident in Cookham Dean and then moved to Hollywood in the late 1940's.

He was educated at Marlborough and Cambridge, where he was studying to become an architect. It was at Cambridge where he took up acting as a lark and the bug bit. Though he was turned down for one part and told to consenentrate on architecture by a fellow student Alistair Cooke of "Letter from America" fame.

He left Cambridge and joined several stock companies and finaly the Old Vic under the wing of Sir Tyrone Guthrie and Alexander Korda. He played for quite awhile as a stage actor, with small parts now and then in small short or quickie films.

He will be best known for his lead with the actress Anne Todd in "The Seventh Veil." It was his mellifluous voice that drew the attention of the cinema crowds. Also in such later film as "North by Northwest" and as Captain Nemo in Jules Vernes "20 Thousand Leagues under the sea."

Buried in Wool

This was a Law in the 16-1700's. It may be of use to anyone who is researching their family history:

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While looking through Parish Records you may notice that an entry saying 'Buried In Woollen' has been made. Probably this will simply be A or Aff, short for affidavit, which had to be legally sworn to say that the act had been complied with, but if a family were poor and could not afford a woollen shroud, the entry may have the word 'naked' written instead. Further information may be found in Churchwardens's accounts or vestry minutes if they have survived.
From 1666 to 1678 Acts of Parliament were passed, The Burial in Woollen Acts, to help promote the declining wool trade. This stated that all dead bodies excluding plague victims must be wrapped in wool only for burial and a certificate issued to that effect by a Justice of the Peace or a neighbouring clergyman and presented within eight days of the burial. However this did not preclude a coffin as well.
Act 30 Car. II c.3 (1677) stated that it was:
“intended for lessening the importation of linen from beyond the seas, and for the encouragement of the woollen and paper manufactures of this kingdom”.
If this law was ignored there was a penalty of five pounds, or the goods and chattels of the deceased could be seized in payment.
The law stayed in force until 1814 when it was repealed by 54 Geo III c. 108, but was usually ignored after 1770.

My thanks to fellow researcher Lorna Cowan, for this piece of information which may be of help to others.

Who, I wonder remembers this tasty item.

Smith's Crisps with the blue twist salt wrap.

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How many of my readers will remember going to a local pub on a summers evening and you sat outside with others drinking a glass of R.W. Whites lemonade and having a bag of Smith's Crisps to munch on, and the careful opening of the packet to hunt for the blue twist packet of salt. On the odd occasion there was no salt to be found as it had been missed at the factory. I remember also that they were shipped in square metal tins to keep them fresh, with 24 packets to a tin.

Pubs were not the only place you buy them as, Mrs. Vale, Annie Slack, Budgens, The International and the Off License did. There was something about the flavour of Smith's Crisp that no crisp company comes close too today, except maybe "Pringle's."

The R.H. White bottling plant if my memory serves me correct was on the Slough Trading Estate. They also bottled Corona soft drinks under license and "Tizer the Appitizer."

A one time Cookham challenge.

The Yard of Ale Challenge.

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There was a time when Cookham supported 13 pubs and 1 Off License, and the challenge to drink a "Yard" of ale was a sport among the young. Mind you they were not driving cars as the mode of transport was a bicycle or to walk in those days.

To drink a yard of ale (2 imperial pints) was no easy task and would take many tries to complete. Then the more adventurous would try and beat the clock. This would end up in most cases with the ale ending up over the contestant than in them.

The glass yard glasses are now quite rare and are classed as a valuable antiques. If you find one it will be on display and not for use. There are still some areas in Britain where the contest is still carried out, but now they use plastic glasses holding the same measure of two imperial pints.

Why my interest in the Village History

There has been quite a few people pass the remark of why, when I live so far away from Cookham, that I have so much interest in the village and what goes on today. The answer is very simple: "How many people living in the village have proven family connection with Cookham that dates back to the late 1700's.

Here is a short transcript that has been sent to me:

'William b1807 and Ben b1824’s parents were:
William Hatch b1777 and Sarah (Mary) Chitts. This William b1777 was brother of your own James Hatch b1789 who married Elizabeth Parsons.'

So you can see why my keen interest in the village history and its people who as Rupert Brooke stated "Bore, Shaped and made Aware" the village of Cookham.

My many thanks to Pam Knight and others who have made my postings possible in this Blog.