My late father Michael Wheeler had an aunt Eva Cooke who lived in Robins Cottage in 1950 s onwards .
We found a photograph of the cottage with her writing on in 1950 in his belongings and would love to find out more about my great aunt and her family . We managed to find her on the a death register for 1976 but not sure where the gravestone is also .
Any information would be appreciated on the family .
Thank you for your enquiry regarding your great aunt Eva Cooke. I remember Eva and her husband Edmund living at Robin Cottage.
To find information on Eva go to the Home Page and scroll down to Search. Click on Index of People, click on C, then click on page 11. Scroll down the page and you will find 5 entries for Eva.There is an interesting article about a Bengeworth Book and it gives a lot of information about Eva's life. There is a photo of the headstone to Edmund and Eva and it is situated in Wickhamford cemetery in Golden Lane.
There is a photo of Eva and Edmund in the Photo Section under Wickhamford and People.
I hope you manage to navigate your way around the website and find the information on Eva
We are always looking for old photos of Wickhamford and would love to see your photo of Robin Cottage.
Thank you for the information regarding my Aunt Eva Cooke .We will have a look at your links about her and her husband Edmund .My father often spoke about where she lived when he was younger and cycling to Evesham to stay with his grandparents in school holidays ..
Eva had 2 sisters Kathleen and Phyllis (my grandmother )and a brother Leonard who went to America .
It is something we want to research about this side of the family as we don’t know too much about what happened to them apart from Leonard after my grandmother died .
Eva’s parents are buried in Evesham .
Not sure whether Eva And Edmund had children ,but hopefully we can search archive registers of birth ,marriages and deaths .
I will upload the photo of Robins Cottage to your photo gallery .
Many thanks,
Jonathan
I have just realised that Eva Cooke was Eva Cull before her marriage to Edmund Cooke. You have put her maiden name as Andrews.
According to my late father Eva went to work as a companion to Edmund's mother and that was how they met.
Robin Cottage and the gardens were beautiful when Eva and Edmund lived there. I have a feeling that they rented the property from the Lees - Milne family who lived in Wickhamford Manor and who owned several houses in Wickhamford.
I don't think you can upload the photo of Robin Cottage straight into the photo gallery. I will let you have the email address of where to send it.
I occasionally go to the Sunday services at Wickhamford church and occasionally there is a joint service with Broadway. I was talking to a couple who attend Broadway Church and I think the lady said she was Eva's niece or certainly a relative.
Good luck in your search on Eva and her side of your family. I'm sure you will find the information on the Badsey Society website interesting.
Thank you for the further information. That’s interesting about a possible niece you may gave met at Broadway Church . She had another sister Kathleen I believe so we will try and track down her family to .
Hi
I tried to enter my orchid on Sunday but have not had an acknowledgment. Am I allowed to bring my own home grown orchid which, I must admit, is prettey impressive.
Thank you
Lindsay
Thank you for your message, Lindsay. The Badsey Society is not involved with the organisation of the Flower Show, but I have passed your message on to the Flower Show Committee.
I am also a descendant of the Mason family of Wickhamford and Badsey. My great grandfather was Richard Mason bp 18/04/1844 in Badsey. His parents were Robert Mason and his wife Jane nee Mansell.
Where are you in the Mason family tree.
Hi.
Robert Mason b 1622 at Worcester 9th GGF. He and his wife (name possibly "Ann Savage" but still researching her).
Mary Mason 1735/1808 were the first of my relations to settle at Badsey . She Married John Neal and Neal is my mothers maiden name. From there they eventually moved to Bretforton then the next generation to Hampton Lucy in Warwickshire. Eventually the family moved to Leamington Spa, which is where I was born and still live
I have Mary Bp 3/1/1736 at Badsey on my family tree. I am descended from her brother Robert Bp Badsey 8/11/1730. Their father was Richard Mason jnr and mother was his first wife Ann Stafford. Richard was baptised at Wickhamford 4/3/1704. Richard's father Richard Snr was baptised at Alderminster his parents were Robert and Judith(nee Eaden). Robert b1622 would be my 9th GGF. Have you proof he was the Robert that moved to Alderminster.
Thank you to Brian Smith on the article of Cunger. He used to talk to my Grandad (Cecil Haines) when we saw him around the village, always wondered what happened to him.
Excellent article about Cunger. Well done Brian. He does not have a monument on his plot. May I suggest we start fund raising to get this well known character a monument.
Thanks, Peter . I wonder if the old b - - - - - 's ears are burning! I think the idea of some sort of memorial in memory of him is an excellent idea , my postal order for five shillings is on its way to you ! Seriously , I wonder if we could get the might of the Badsey Society behind this ?
Thanks , Sue. I'm glad that you remember him. The name Cecil Haines is familiar to me , but I can't put a face to. him. He married in 1933 at Badsey Church, as my parents did , so he and my dad Tom Smith were probably about the same age. The story about Universal Stores came from my dad .
Wonderful website I have enjoyed exploring! The picture included on your article is the Wooton extension, I don't know where Annie worked but if you want to see visit the public hall (now memorial hall) that was used as the main hospital we are holding an open day on 13th September 2025 (henleymemhall.co.uk/heritageopenday) including a section on the hospital.
Today I was sorting through a box of old books. I found a book that belonged to the Rev Charles Phillott. Thanks to your information I was able to learn more about this books previous owner. I live in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho in the United States of America. I just thought this was pretty neat. Thanks for all your research.
The book is “The Works of Alexander Pope” Volume 7 dated 1757. Rev. Phillott’s library stamp is attached to the front inside jacket of the book.
How lovely to find a book in America which belonged to Rev Phillott! You never know where things are going to turn up. Quite a number of families from Badsey emigrated to America in the 1860s and 1870s, so possibly one of these people took the book.
I now live in the historic house Abbey Manor, and walk through what was the operating theatre many times a day, it looks very much like it did during the war years, I sleep in what was once a ward, the structure of the house is very original original photos show the house unchanged in many respects, the history of the house follows you around,
I am the great great Grandson of John Henry Mcdonald, I was wondering if he has a grave in Badsey churchyard?
I've found Elizabeth's and Margaret's graves who were my Grandad's Aunts.
Thank you for a informative read and a great website!
James.
Yes there is a monument for John Henry & his wife. Go back to the Home page, scroll down to Monumental Inscriptions, click on St. James Badsey, and then look for the Surname Index under the cemetery plan.
I only photograph the one side of the kerbstones showing his wife.
I've been enjoying reading about my great aunt Beatrice Louise Plant who moved to your area from London to join her youngest two brothers. They lost their parents Emma Plant (née Laundy) and Charles Samuel Plant very early in life - certainly when the boys were young: both parents died, six or seven years apart from typhoid. Times must have been very desperate for the family: their last address in London was Campbell Road in Finsbury Park - also known as Campbell Bunk - described as the worst street in London at the time! I think Beatrice, Charles and Joseph found a much happier existence in Worcestershire!
Thank you for letting us know how much you enjoyed reading about the Plant family. Yes, life must have been much easier for them in rural Worcestershire.
My children, Carl, Jackie, Adam are the direct descendants of William Holland. Their father, Alan Philip Holland was the son of Maurice Sidney Holland, son of William Holland.
In case you haven't seen the article, there is a lot of information on the website about Maurice's brother, Albert William Holland, who died in the First World War. This article has recently been updated with copies of documents sent by Albert's great-niece.
George was my Uncle by marriage he married my Aunty Emily (nee Heritage). I was thrilled to find all this information and photos. Although I was only ten when he died I did visit frequently as we lived in the prefabs just along the road. Thanks again for all the information.
Hi Gill, Glad you have enjoyed reading about your Uncle George and Aunt Emily and also seeing the lovely photos.
We are so lucky in the Badsey Society that so many people are happy to share their photos and memories.
It was nice seeing you in Evesham yesterday.
Hello - I have recently inherited some Battye family material so am hoping to find somebody who might want to have it? Please contact me for more information if this is of interest. Thank you. Clare
The only surname on our website that appears in Wickhamford was 'Batty', in a family that bought the Manor in the post-War period. If this is connected to your 'Battye' family, we would like to hear more. You can contact me on thos.locke@btopenworld.com
Thank you for your offer, but the focus of our website is the villages of Badsey and Wickhamford. Marmie Grant-Dalton (nee Battye) is mentioned on the website, simply because she appears in the letters written by the Sladden family of Badsey during WW1. I hope you find someone who may be interested.
Thank you for your wonderful site. I Googled the names of my grandparents, Charles William Plant and Annie Wasley and the page about their wedding came up. I never knew the name of my grandfather's brother, nor that he had moved from Devon to your area with him, nor that he had had a family. I am sorry to have discovered this too late to meet his son Arthur. I knew some of their back story, but a lot of details about their parents in London were new to me.
Comments
Eva Cooke ( nee Andrews ) who lived in Robins Cottage
My late father Michael Wheeler had an aunt Eva Cooke who lived in Robins Cottage in 1950 s onwards .
We found a photograph of the cottage with her writing on in 1950 in his belongings and would love to find out more about my great aunt and her family . We managed to find her on the a death register for 1976 but not sure where the gravestone is also .
Any information would be appreciated on the family .
Re: Eva Cooke ( nee Andrews ) who lived in Robins Cottage
Thank you for your enquiry regarding your great aunt Eva Cooke. I remember Eva and her husband Edmund living at Robin Cottage.
To find information on Eva go to the Home Page and scroll down to Search. Click on Index of People, click on C, then click on page 11. Scroll down the page and you will find 5 entries for Eva.There is an interesting article about a Bengeworth Book and it gives a lot of information about Eva's life. There is a photo of the headstone to Edmund and Eva and it is situated in Wickhamford cemetery in Golden Lane.
There is a photo of Eva and Edmund in the Photo Section under Wickhamford and People.
I hope you manage to navigate your way around the website and find the information on Eva
We are always looking for old photos of Wickhamford and would love to see your photo of Robin Cottage.
Re: Eva Cooke ( nee Andrews ) who lived in Robins Cottage
Thank you for the information regarding my Aunt Eva Cooke .We will have a look at your links about her and her husband Edmund .My father often spoke about where she lived when he was younger and cycling to Evesham to stay with his grandparents in school holidays ..
Eva had 2 sisters Kathleen and Phyllis (my grandmother )and a brother Leonard who went to America .
It is something we want to research about this side of the family as we don’t know too much about what happened to them apart from Leonard after my grandmother died .
Eva’s parents are buried in Evesham .
Not sure whether Eva And Edmund had children ,but hopefully we can search archive registers of birth ,marriages and deaths .
I will upload the photo of Robins Cottage to your photo gallery .
Many thanks,
Jonathan
Re: Eva Cooke ( nee Andrews ) who lived in Robins Cottage
I have just realised that Eva Cooke was Eva Cull before her marriage to Edmund Cooke. You have put her maiden name as Andrews.
According to my late father Eva went to work as a companion to Edmund's mother and that was how they met.
Robin Cottage and the gardens were beautiful when Eva and Edmund lived there. I have a feeling that they rented the property from the Lees - Milne family who lived in Wickhamford Manor and who owned several houses in Wickhamford.
I don't think you can upload the photo of Robin Cottage straight into the photo gallery. I will let you have the email address of where to send it.
I occasionally go to the Sunday services at Wickhamford church and occasionally there is a joint service with Broadway. I was talking to a couple who attend Broadway Church and I think the lady said she was Eva's niece or certainly a relative.
Good luck in your search on Eva and her side of your family. I'm sure you will find the information on the Badsey Society website interesting.
Re: Eva Cooke ( nee Andrews ) who lived in Robins Cottage
A lovely photo of Robin Cottage. It's nice to have one of the rear of the property. Thank you for sending it.
Re: Eva Cooke ( nee Andrews ) who lived in Robins Cottage
Thank you for the further information. That’s interesting about a possible niece you may gave met at Broadway Church . She had another sister Kathleen I believe so we will try and track down her family to .
Re: Eva Cooke ( nee Andrews ) who lived in Robins Cottage
I forgot to add in my last message that Edmund and Eva didn't have children.
Re: Eva Cooke ( nee Andrews ) who lived in Robins Cottage
The 1950 photo of Robin Cottage is now in our photo gallery.
Entry
Hi
I tried to enter my orchid on Sunday but have not had an acknowledgment. Am I allowed to bring my own home grown orchid which, I must admit, is prettey impressive.
Thank you
Lindsay
Re: Entry
Thank you for your message, Lindsay. The Badsey Society is not involved with the organisation of the Flower Show, but I have passed your message on to the Flower Show Committee.
Mason Family
Great site, has helped me trace my ancestors (Mason) and their family from Badsey and the surrounding villages..........
Re: Mason Family
I am also a descendant of the Mason family of Wickhamford and Badsey. My great grandfather was Richard Mason bp 18/04/1844 in Badsey. His parents were Robert Mason and his wife Jane nee Mansell.
Where are you in the Mason family tree.
Re: Mason Family
Hi.
Robert Mason b 1622 at Worcester 9th GGF. He and his wife (name possibly "Ann Savage" but still researching her).
Mary Mason 1735/1808 were the first of my relations to settle at Badsey . She Married John Neal and Neal is my mothers maiden name. From there they eventually moved to Bretforton then the next generation to Hampton Lucy in Warwickshire. Eventually the family moved to Leamington Spa, which is where I was born and still live
Re: Mason Family
I have Mary Bp 3/1/1736 at Badsey on my family tree. I am descended from her brother Robert Bp Badsey 8/11/1730. Their father was Richard Mason jnr and mother was his first wife Ann Stafford. Richard was baptised at Wickhamford 4/3/1704. Richard's father Richard Snr was baptised at Alderminster his parents were Robert and Judith(nee Eaden). Robert b1622 would be my 9th GGF. Have you proof he was the Robert that moved to Alderminster.
Cunger Jones
Cunger Jones
Thank you to Brian Smith on the article of Cunger. He used to talk to my Grandad (Cecil Haines) when we saw him around the village, always wondered what happened to him.
Re: Cunger Jones
Excellent article about Cunger. Well done Brian. He does not have a monument on his plot. May I suggest we start fund raising to get this well known character a monument.
Re: Cunger Jones
Thanks, Peter . I wonder if the old b - - - - - 's ears are burning! I think the idea of some sort of memorial in memory of him is an excellent idea , my postal order for five shillings is on its way to you ! Seriously , I wonder if we could get the might of the Badsey Society behind this ?
Re: Cunger Jones
Thanks , Sue. I'm glad that you remember him. The name Cecil Haines is familiar to me , but I can't put a face to. him. He married in 1933 at Badsey Church, as my parents did , so he and my dad Tom Smith were probably about the same age. The story about Universal Stores came from my dad .
Annie Lily Robbins VAD work at Henley
Wonderful website I have enjoyed exploring! The picture included on your article is the Wooton extension, I don't know where Annie worked but if you want to see visit the public hall (now memorial hall) that was used as the main hospital we are holding an open day on 13th September 2025 (henleymemhall.co.uk/heritageopenday) including a section on the hospital.
Re: Annie Lily Robbins VAD work at Henley
Thank you for your kind comments, Kate. I have added your detail to the photograph in the article on Annie Lily Robbins.
Thank you. also, for the details of the open day.
Tom
Mary Pyott Barker
Mary's will passed final probate in 1654 but a previous admon. had been granted February 21 1649/50. Perhaps the death date of 1648 is correct after all.
https://archive.org/details/miscellaneagenea3190howa/page/n310/mode/1up
Re: Mary Pyott Barker
Thanks for your comment, Margaret, and for the link.
Tom Locke
Rev. Charles Phillott
Today I was sorting through a box of old books. I found a book that belonged to the Rev Charles Phillott. Thanks to your information I was able to learn more about this books previous owner. I live in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho in the United States of America. I just thought this was pretty neat. Thanks for all your research.
The book is “The Works of Alexander Pope” Volume 7 dated 1757. Rev. Phillott’s library stamp is attached to the front inside jacket of the book.
Re: Rev. Charles Phillott
How lovely to find a book in America which belonged to Rev Phillott! You never know where things are going to turn up. Quite a number of families from Badsey emigrated to America in the 1860s and 1870s, so possibly one of these people took the book.
Abbey Manor
I now live in the historic house Abbey Manor, and walk through what was the operating theatre many times a day, it looks very much like it did during the war years, I sleep in what was once a ward, the structure of the house is very original original photos show the house unchanged in many respects, the history of the house follows you around,
Re: Abbey Manor
What a wonderful place to live! Hope you have enjoyed reading the various references to Abbey Manor in the Sladden family letters.
Mcdonald family
I am the great great Grandson of John Henry Mcdonald, I was wondering if he has a grave in Badsey churchyard?
I've found Elizabeth's and Margaret's graves who were my Grandad's Aunts.
Thank you for a informative read and a great website!
Re: Mcdonald family
James.
Yes there is a monument for John Henry & his wife. Go back to the Home page, scroll down to Monumental Inscriptions, click on St. James Badsey, and then look for the Surname Index under the cemetery plan.
I only photograph the one side of the kerbstones showing his wife.
Beatrice Louise Plant
I've been enjoying reading about my great aunt Beatrice Louise Plant who moved to your area from London to join her youngest two brothers. They lost their parents Emma Plant (née Laundy) and Charles Samuel Plant very early in life - certainly when the boys were young: both parents died, six or seven years apart from typhoid. Times must have been very desperate for the family: their last address in London was Campbell Road in Finsbury Park - also known as Campbell Bunk - described as the worst street in London at the time! I think Beatrice, Charles and Joseph found a much happier existence in Worcestershire!
Re: Beatrice Louise Plant
Thank you for letting us know how much you enjoyed reading about the Plant family. Yes, life must have been much easier for them in rural Worcestershire.
Holland- William
My children, Carl, Jackie, Adam are the direct descendants of William Holland. Their father, Alan Philip Holland was the son of Maurice Sidney Holland, son of William Holland.
Re: Holland- William
In case you haven't seen the article, there is a lot of information on the website about Maurice's brother, Albert William Holland, who died in the First World War. This article has recently been updated with copies of documents sent by Albert's great-niece.
George Higgins Hardiman
George was my Uncle by marriage he married my Aunty Emily (nee Heritage). I was thrilled to find all this information and photos. Although I was only ten when he died I did visit frequently as we lived in the prefabs just along the road. Thanks again for all the information.
Re: George Higgins Hardiman
Hi Gill, Glad you have enjoyed reading about your Uncle George and Aunt Emily and also seeing the lovely photos.
We are so lucky in the Badsey Society that so many people are happy to share their photos and memories.
It was nice seeing you in Evesham yesterday.
Marmie Grant-Dalton (nee Battye)
Hello - I have recently inherited some Battye family material so am hoping to find somebody who might want to have it? Please contact me for more information if this is of interest. Thank you. Clare
Re: Marmie Grant-Dalton (nee Battye)
Hello Clare,
The only surname on our website that appears in Wickhamford was 'Batty', in a family that bought the Manor in the post-War period. If this is connected to your 'Battye' family, we would like to hear more. You can contact me on thos.locke@btopenworld.com
Tom
Re: Marmie Grant-Dalton (nee Battye)
Thank you for your offer, but the focus of our website is the villages of Badsey and Wickhamford. Marmie Grant-Dalton (nee Battye) is mentioned on the website, simply because she appears in the letters written by the Sladden family of Badsey during WW1. I hope you find someone who may be interested.
Arthur Plant
Thank you for your wonderful site. I Googled the names of my grandparents, Charles William Plant and Annie Wasley and the page about their wedding came up. I never knew the name of my grandfather's brother, nor that he had moved from Devon to your area with him, nor that he had had a family. I am sorry to have discovered this too late to meet his son Arthur. I knew some of their back story, but a lot of details about their parents in London were new to me.
Stephen Crisp
Hello
I am the grandson of Stephen Crisp and Florence Yates. I saw the archive piece about their wedding in Badsey in 1939. Was lovely to read it.
Re: Stephen Crisp
So glad that you have been able to see a photo of your grandparents' wedding.