The photograph on the left below was lent by Betty Daffurn, of Elm Farm Wickhamford. It is of Billy and Edith Howells and was taken on the entrance path to Elm Farm, with Old Vicarage and Weathervane Cottage in the background.  It was taken in about 1960.

Billy, or William George, to give him his full name, and Edith Mary, died in 1964 and 1974 respectively and were buried in Wickhamford Council Burial Ground, in a grave marked only by a plain cross. They had no children.

When the 1891 Census was taken, the family of John Basco Pope lived in Wickhamford Manor – he and his wife, Hannah Maria, and their five children. There were no resident servants whilst the Popes lived there but, at the time of this Census, two other people were recorded at the Manor as ‘Lodgers’.  This term indicated that they were renting some rooms and were not casual visitors.  The couple concerned were Francis Thomas and Sarah Ann Marrian.  His occupation appears to be given as ‘Painter (Artist)’ and he was 42 years of age, whilst his wife was three years older.

Introduction

In 1836, the Tithe Commutation Act was introduced to bring an end to the system of tithes in England, where tenants had to pay the landowner with one tenth of the produce on their land.  As part of this procedure, in each village, a tithe map was produced, together with a list of landowners, tenants, acreage, names of the parcel of lands and the tithes paid.  These amounts were paid at this time, rather than produce.  In 1842, a tithe map and list were produced for Wickhamford, which showed that nearly all of the acreage was owned by Lord Sandys of Ombersley.