Cookham
Encyclopedia
Cookham is a village
and civil parish in the north-easternmost corner of Berkshire
in England
, on the River Thames
, notable as the home of the artist Stanley Spencer
. It lies 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Maidenhead
close to the border with Buckinghamshire
. It has a population of 5,519, and was deemed Britain's second richest village by The Daily Telegraph
in 2011.
The village's neighbours are Maidenhead
to the south, Bourne End
to the north, Marlow
& Bisham
to the west and Taplow
to the east.
The River Thames
flows past Cookham on its way from Marlow to Taplow, and forms the boundary with Buckinghamshire
. Several islands in the Thames belong to Cookham, such as Odney Island, Formosa Island
and Sashes Island
which separates Cookham Lock
from Hedsor Water
. The Lulle Brook and the White Brook are tributaries of the River Thames
which flow through the parish.
A good amount of common land
remains in the parish, such as Widbrook Common, Cookham Dean Common and Cock Marsh
. Winter Hill affords excellent views over the Thames Valley
.
Cookham is also home to the Chartered Institute of Marketing
, based in Moor Hall. The John Lewis Partnership, one of the country's premier retailers, which runs John Lewis department stores and Waitrose supermarkets, has a residential training and holiday centre based at Odney
.
. Cookham also has a parish council made up of fifteen councillors assisted by a part time parish clerk and an assistant. The local health services are managed by the East Berkshire PCT (Primary Care Trust) - NHS Services.
The ancient parish of Cookham covered all of Maidenhead
north of the London
and Bath Road until this area's severance in 1894. There were several manors: Cookham, Lullebrook, Elington, Pinkneys, Great Bradley
, Bullocks, White Place and Cannon Court.
which were excavated in the 19th century and the largest stone axe ever found in Britain was one of 10,000 that has been dug up in nearby Furze Platt. The Roman Road
called the Camlet Way
is reckoned to have crossed the Thames at Sashes Island
, now cut by Cookham Lock
, on its way from St. Albans to Silchester
. By the 8th century there was an Anglo-Saxon
abbey
in Cookham and one of the later abbesses was Cynethryth
, widow of King Offa of Mercia
. It became the centre of a power struggle between Mercia
and Wessex
. Later King Alfred made Sashes Island one of his burh
s to help defend against Viking
invaders. There was a royal palace here where the Witan met in 997
.
It is recorded in the Domesday Book
as Cocheham. The name may be from the Old English cōc + hām, meaning 'cook village', i.e. 'village noted for its cooks', although the first element may be derived from the Old English cōc(e) meaning 'hill'.
Although the earliest stone church building may date from 750 AD, the earliest identifiable part of the current Holy Trinity Church, Cookham is the Lady Chapel, which was built in the late 12th century on the site of the cell of a female hermit
who lived next to the church and was paid a halfpenny a day by Henry II
.
In the Middle Ages
, most of Cookham was owned by Cirencester Abbey
and the timber-framed 'Churchgate House' was apparently the Abbot's residence when in town. The Tarry Stone - still to be seen on the boundary wall of the Dower House - marked the extent of their lands.
The town people have resisted many attempts to enclose parts of the common land, including by the vicar, Rev. Thomas Whateley in 1799, Miss Isabella Fleming in 1869 (who wanted to stop nude bathing at Odney) and the Odney Estates in 1928 who wanted to enclose Odney Common. The Maidenhead and Cookham Commons Preservation committee was formed and raised £2,738 to buy the manorial rights and the commons which were then donated to the National Trust
by 1937. These included Widbrook, Cockmarsh, Winter Hill, Cookham Dean Commons, Pinkneys Green Common and Maidenhead Thicket.
Cookham Village is on the A4094 between Maidenhead and Bourne End. The A404(M) motorway
from Maidenhead to High Wycombe
is just to the west of Cookham Dean. Cookham railway station
is at Cookham Rise, on the Marlow
to Maidenhead
branch line. There are two direct trains to and from London, Paddington
during the morning and evening rush hour. The rest of the trains require a change at Maidenhead. An hourly bus service to Maidenhead
, Bourne End
and High Wycombe
is provided by Arriva Shires & Essex
six days a week; on Sundays Courtney Coaches
run a service from the village to Maidenehead and Bracknell
. Then, of course, there is always the river, which has a long stretch of moorings above Cookham Bridge
.
and across National Trust
property. There are a good selection of restaurants and pubs in the High Street. The Stanley Spencer Gallery
, based in the former Methodist chapel, also has a permanent exhibition of the artist's works.
such as:
In 2002, Timmy Mallett
painted a series of portraits of well-known village residents as part of the celebrations for the Queen's Golden Jubilee. A selection of the portraits can be viewed at his web site http://www.brillianttv.co.uk/timmymallett/jubilee.html.
to foster international relations.
Saint-Benoît, Vienne
, a village near Poitiers
, France
.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish in the north-easternmost corner of Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, on the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
, notable as the home of the artist Stanley Spencer
Stanley Spencer
Sir Stanley Spencer was an English painter. Much of his work depicts Biblical scenes, from miracles to Crucifixion, happening not in the Holy Land but in the small Thames-side village where he was born and spent most of his life...
. It lies 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
close to the border with Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
. It has a population of 5,519, and was deemed Britain's second richest village by The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
in 2011.
Geography
The area is made up of three villages:- Cookham Village - the centre of the original village, with an attractive High Street which has changed little in appearance over the centuries.
- Cookham DeanCookham DeanCookham Dean is a settlement to the west of the village of Cookham in Berkshire, England. It is the highest point of all the Cookhams -Commerce:...
- the most rural village. - Cookham Rise - the bit in the middle that grew up around the village's railway station.
The village's neighbours are Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
to the south, Bourne End
Bourne End, Buckinghamshire
Bourne End is a village predominantly in the parish of Wooburn and Bourne End, but also in the parish of Little Marlow, in Buckinghamshire, England. It is situated close to the border with Berkshire, near where the River Wye meets the River Thames...
to the north, Marlow
Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Marlow is a town and civil parish within Wycombe district in south Buckinghamshire, England...
& Bisham
Bisham
Bisham is a village and civil parish in the Windsor and Maidenhead district of Berkshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,149. The village is on the River Thames, north of which is Marlow in Buckinghamshire...
to the west and Taplow
Taplow
Taplow is a village and civil parish within South Bucks district in Buckinghamshire, England. It sits on the east bank of the River Thames facing Maidenhead on the opposite bank. Taplow railway station is situated near the A4 south of the village....
to the east.
The River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
flows past Cookham on its way from Marlow to Taplow, and forms the boundary with Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
. Several islands in the Thames belong to Cookham, such as Odney Island, Formosa Island
Formosa Island
Formosa Island is an island in the River Thames in England at Cookham Lock near Cookham, Berkshire, with two smaller adjacent islands.The island is one of the largest on the non-tidal river Thames with of woodland. It can be reached by footbridge from Cookham...
and Sashes Island
Sashes Island
Sashes Island is an island in the River Thames in England at Cookham Lock near Cookham, Berkshire. It is now open farmland, but has Roman and Anglo-Saxon connections....
which separates Cookham Lock
Cookham Lock
Cookham Lock is a lock with weirs situated on the River Thames near Cookham, Berkshire. The lock is set in a lock cut which is one of four streams here and it is surrounded by woods. On one side is Sashes Island and on the other is Mill Island connected to Formosa Island, the largest on the...
from Hedsor Water
Hedsor Water
Hedsor Water is a backwater of the River Thames near Cookham, Berkshire which leaves the river above Cookham Lock and rejoins at the tail of the lock cut, running alongside Sashes Island. Hedsor Water was once the main course of the Thames but was by-passed for navigation by the construction of...
. The Lulle Brook and the White Brook are tributaries of the River Thames
Tributaries of the River Thames
This article lists the tributaries of the River Thames, in England. It also includes significant backwaters and waterways which also have confluences with the main stream of the River Thames.Most of the tributaries are natural, but a few were man-made...
which flow through the parish.
A good amount of common land
Common land
Common land is land owned collectively or by one person, but over which other people have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze upon it, to collect firewood, or to cut turf for fuel...
remains in the parish, such as Widbrook Common, Cookham Dean Common and Cock Marsh
Cock Marsh
Cock Marsh is an area of flat water meadows and steep chalk hillsides near Cookham village and civil parish in the north-eastern corner of Berkshire in England, on the River Thames. It covers and has been common land used for grazing since 1272. It was bought by local villagers and given to the ...
. Winter Hill affords excellent views over the Thames Valley
Thames Valley
The Thames Valley Region is a loose term for the English counties and towns roughly following the course of the River Thames as it flows from Oxfordshire in the west to London in the east. It includes parts of Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, North Hampshire, Surrey and west London...
.
Cookham is also home to the Chartered Institute of Marketing
Chartered Institute of Marketing
The Chartered Institute of Marketing claims to be the world's largest organisation of professional marketers. It is based in UK with over 40,000 members worldwide. It's headquarters are in Cookham near Maidenhead, CIM offers professional development to marketing practitioners across the world...
, based in Moor Hall. The John Lewis Partnership, one of the country's premier retailers, which runs John Lewis department stores and Waitrose supermarkets, has a residential training and holiday centre based at Odney
Odney
Odney is a common and island in the Thames, part of the civil parish of Cookham, in the English county of Berkshire.-Location:It lies next to the village of Cookham and the River Thames, and is located approximately North of Maidenhead.-Pottery:...
.
Local government
Cookham's municipal services are provided by the Royal Borough of Windsor and MaidenheadRoyal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is a Royal Borough of Berkshire, in South East England. It became a unitary authority on 1 April 1998.It is home to Windsor Castle, Eton College, Legoland and Ascot Racecourse....
. Cookham also has a parish council made up of fifteen councillors assisted by a part time parish clerk and an assistant. The local health services are managed by the East Berkshire PCT (Primary Care Trust) - NHS Services.
The ancient parish of Cookham covered all of Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
north of the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Bath Road until this area's severance in 1894. There were several manors: Cookham, Lullebrook, Elington, Pinkneys, Great Bradley
Great Bradley
Great Bradley is a village in Suffolk, England. According to Eilert Ekwall the meaning of the village name is the "wide clearing". The Domesday Book records the population of Great Bradley in 1086 to be 57...
, Bullocks, White Place and Cannon Court.
History
The area has been inhabited for thousands of years. There were several prehistoric burial mounds on Cock MarshCock Marsh
Cock Marsh is an area of flat water meadows and steep chalk hillsides near Cookham village and civil parish in the north-eastern corner of Berkshire in England, on the River Thames. It covers and has been common land used for grazing since 1272. It was bought by local villagers and given to the ...
which were excavated in the 19th century and the largest stone axe ever found in Britain was one of 10,000 that has been dug up in nearby Furze Platt. The Roman Road
Roman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
called the Camlet Way
Camlet Way
Camlet Way was a Roman road in England which ran roughly east-west between Colchester in Essex and Silchester in Hampshire via St Albans ....
is reckoned to have crossed the Thames at Sashes Island
Sashes Island
Sashes Island is an island in the River Thames in England at Cookham Lock near Cookham, Berkshire. It is now open farmland, but has Roman and Anglo-Saxon connections....
, now cut by Cookham Lock
Cookham Lock
Cookham Lock is a lock with weirs situated on the River Thames near Cookham, Berkshire. The lock is set in a lock cut which is one of four streams here and it is surrounded by woods. On one side is Sashes Island and on the other is Mill Island connected to Formosa Island, the largest on the...
, on its way from St. Albans to Silchester
Silchester
Silchester is a village and civil parish about north of Basingstoke in Hampshire. It is adjacent to the county boundary with Berkshire and about south-west of Reading....
. By the 8th century there was an Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
in Cookham and one of the later abbesses was Cynethryth
Cynethryth
Cynethryth was the wife of Offa of Mercia and mother of Ecgfrith of Mercia. Cynethryth is the only Anglo-Saxon Queen consort in whose name coinage was definitely issued.-Origins and marriage:...
, widow of King Offa of Mercia
Offa of Mercia
Offa was the King of Mercia from 757 until his death in July 796. The son of Thingfrith and a descendant of Eowa, Offa came to the throne after a period of civil war following the assassination of Æthelbald after defeating the other claimant Beornred. In the early years of Offa's reign it is likely...
. It became the centre of a power struggle between Mercia
Mercia
Mercia was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. It was centred on the valley of the River Trent and its tributaries in the region now known as the English Midlands...
and Wessex
Wessex
The Kingdom of Wessex or Kingdom of the West Saxons was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the West Saxons, in South West England, from the 6th century, until the emergence of a united English state in the 10th century, under the Wessex dynasty. It was to be an earldom after Canute the Great's conquest...
. Later King Alfred made Sashes Island one of his burh
Burh
A Burh is an Old English name for a fortified town or other defended site, sometimes centred upon a hill fort though always intended as a place of permanent settlement, its origin was in military defence; "it represented only a stage, though a vitally important one, in the evolution of the...
s to help defend against Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
invaders. There was a royal palace here where the Witan met in 997
997
Year 997 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* First documented reference to the City of Gdańsk....
.
It is recorded in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as Cocheham. The name may be from the Old English cōc + hām, meaning 'cook village', i.e. 'village noted for its cooks', although the first element may be derived from the Old English cōc(e) meaning 'hill'.
Although the earliest stone church building may date from 750 AD, the earliest identifiable part of the current Holy Trinity Church, Cookham is the Lady Chapel, which was built in the late 12th century on the site of the cell of a female hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
who lived next to the church and was paid a halfpenny a day by Henry II
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
.
In the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, most of Cookham was owned by Cirencester Abbey
Cirencester Abbey
Cirencester Abbey in Gloucestershire was founded as an Augustinian monastery in 1117 on the site of an earlier church, the oldest-known Saxon church in England, which had itself been built on the site of a Roman structure. The church was greatly enlarged in the 14th century with addition of an...
and the timber-framed 'Churchgate House' was apparently the Abbot's residence when in town. The Tarry Stone - still to be seen on the boundary wall of the Dower House - marked the extent of their lands.
The town people have resisted many attempts to enclose parts of the common land, including by the vicar, Rev. Thomas Whateley in 1799, Miss Isabella Fleming in 1869 (who wanted to stop nude bathing at Odney) and the Odney Estates in 1928 who wanted to enclose Odney Common. The Maidenhead and Cookham Commons Preservation committee was formed and raised £2,738 to buy the manorial rights and the commons which were then donated to the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
by 1937. These included Widbrook, Cockmarsh, Winter Hill, Cookham Dean Commons, Pinkneys Green Common and Maidenhead Thicket.
Transport
A404(M) motorway
The A404 is a motorway in Berkshire, England and can be referred to as the Maidenhead West Bypass. It joins the M4 with the A404 dual carriageway to High Wycombe, Marlow and the M40...
from Maidenhead to High Wycombe
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
is just to the west of Cookham Dean. Cookham railway station
Cookham railway station
Cookham railway station serves the village of Cookham, Berkshire, England. First Great Western trains between Maidenhead and Marlow serve the station. The station has basic facilities, including a ticket office which is open in the morning peak....
is at Cookham Rise, on the Marlow
Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Marlow is a town and civil parish within Wycombe district in south Buckinghamshire, England...
to Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
branch line. There are two direct trains to and from London, Paddington
Paddington station
Paddington railway station, also known as London Paddington, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex.The site is a historic one, having served as the London terminus of the Great Western Railway and its successors since 1838. Much of the current mainline station dates...
during the morning and evening rush hour. The rest of the trains require a change at Maidenhead. An hourly bus service to Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
, Bourne End
Bourne End, Buckinghamshire
Bourne End is a village predominantly in the parish of Wooburn and Bourne End, but also in the parish of Little Marlow, in Buckinghamshire, England. It is situated close to the border with Berkshire, near where the River Wye meets the River Thames...
and High Wycombe
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
is provided by Arriva Shires & Essex
Arriva Shires & Essex
Arriva Shires & Essex is a division of Arriva, with operations in Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London. It is one of many private operators of London Buses. Until 2002 its operations included Colchester...
six days a week; on Sundays Courtney Coaches
Courtney Coaches
Courtney Coaches are a bus operator baseed in Bracknell, Berkshire, England. They operate a network of commercial and contracted local bus services and school buses in and around Bracknell and Maidenhead...
run a service from the village to Maidenehead and Bracknell
Bracknell
Bracknell is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire, England. It lies to the south-east of Reading, southwest of Windsor and west of central London...
. Then, of course, there is always the river, which has a long stretch of moorings above Cookham Bridge
Cookham Bridge
Cookham Bridge is a road bridge in Cookham, Berkshire, carrying the A4094 road across the River Thames in England. It is situated on the reach above Cookham Lock and links Cookham on the Berkshire bank with Bourne End in Buckinghamshire....
.
Attractions
The village is a popular tourist destination, as it is a convenient base for a number of walks along the Thames PathThames Path
The Thames Path is a National Trail, opened in 1996, following the length of the River Thames from its source near Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Thames Barrier at Charlton. It is about long....
and across National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
property. There are a good selection of restaurants and pubs in the High Street. The Stanley Spencer Gallery
Stanley Spencer Gallery
The Stanley Spencer Gallery is a small gallery in Cookham, a village next to the River Thames in the English county of Berkshire.-Art gallery:The gallery celebrates the famous English painter Sir Stanley Spencer , who lived in the village...
, based in the former Methodist chapel, also has a permanent exhibition of the artist's works.
Art and Literature
- Kenneth GrahameKenneth GrahameKenneth Grahame was a Scottish writer, most famous for The Wind in the Willows , one of the classics of children's literature. He also wrote The Reluctant Dragon; both books were later adapted into Disney films....
is said to have been inspired by the River ThamesRiver ThamesThe River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
at Cookham to write The Wind in the WillowsThe Wind in the WillowsThe Wind in the Willows is a classic of children's literature by Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1908. Alternately slow moving and fast paced, it focuses on four anthropomorphised animal characters in a pastoral version of England...
, as he lived at ‘The Mount’ in Cookham Dean as a child and returned to the village to write the book. Quarry Wood in BishamBishamBisham is a village and civil parish in the Windsor and Maidenhead district of Berkshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,149. The village is on the River Thames, north of which is Marlow in Buckinghamshire...
, adjoining, is said to have been the original 'Wild Wood'. He later lived in WinkfieldWinkfieldWinkfield is a village and civil parish in the Bracknell Forest unitary authority of Berkshire, England.-Geography:According to the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 15,271...
, BlewburyBlewburyBlewbury is a village and civil parish at the foot of the Berkshire Downs about south of Didcot. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire.-Prehistory:...
and PangbournePangbournePangbourne is a large village and civil parish on the River Thames in the English county of Berkshire. Pangbourne is the home of the independent school, Pangbourne College.-Location:...
. - The English painter Sir Stanley Spencer was born here and most of his works depict villagers and village life in Cookham. His religious paintings usually had Cookham as their backdrop and a number of the landmarks seen in his canvases can still be seen in the village. A number of his works can be seen at the small Stanley Spencer GalleryStanley Spencer GalleryThe Stanley Spencer Gallery is a small gallery in Cookham, a village next to the River Thames in the English county of Berkshire.-Art gallery:The gallery celebrates the famous English painter Sir Stanley Spencer , who lived in the village...
in the centre of the village, close to where he lived. He also painted frescoFrescoFresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
es in at least one of the private houses in Cookham; however, they are not open to public viewing. He is buried in the churchyard in the village. - In Noel CowardNoël CowardSir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
's play Hay FeverHay FeverHay Fever is a comic play written by Noël Coward in 1924 and first produced in 1925 with Marie Tempest as the first Judith Bliss. Laura Hope Crews played the role in New York...
, retired actress Judith Bliss and her family live in Cookham.
Historic Figures
- Simon Alleyn, the supposed Singing Vicar of BrayThe Vicar of BrayThe Vicar of Bray is a satirical description of an individual fundamentally changing his principles to remain in ecclesiastical office as external requirements change around him...
- Dr. William BattieWilliam BattieWilliam Battie , 1 September 1703–13 June 1776, was an English physician who published in 1758 the first lengthy book on the treatment of mental illness, A Treatise on Madness, and by extending methods of treatment to the poor as well as the affluent, helped raise psychiatry to a respectable...
d. 1776 , the editor of Isocrates & founder of the University Scholarship at Cambridge - Enid BlytonEnid BlytonEnid Blyton was an English children's writer also known as Mary Pollock.Noted for numerous series of books based on recurring characters and designed for different age groups,her books have enjoyed huge success in many parts of the world, and have sold over 600 million copies.One of Blyton's most...
1897-1968, the children's author - Henry DodwellHenry DodwellHenry Dodwell was an Anglo-Irish scholar, theologian and controversial writer.-Life:He was born in Dublin, Ireland. His father, William Dodwell, lost his property in Connacht during the Irish rebellion and settled at York in 1648...
1641-1711, the scholar and theologian - Kenneth GrahameKenneth GrahameKenneth Grahame was a Scottish writer, most famous for The Wind in the Willows , one of the classics of children's literature. He also wrote The Reluctant Dragon; both books were later adapted into Disney films....
, writer of the Wind in the Willows - Nathaniel HookeNathaniel HookeNathaniel Hooke was an English historian.-Life:He was the eldest son of John Hooke, serjeant-at-law, and nephew of Nathaniel Hooke the Jacobite politician. He is thought by John Kirk to have studied with Alexander Pope at Twyford School, and to have formed a lifelong friendship there.He was...
d. 1763, the historian - Isaac PocockIsaac PocockIsaac Pocock was an English dramatist and painter of portraits and historical subjects . He wrote melodramas, farces and light operatic comedies, many of his works being adapted for stage from existing novels...
1782–1835, the artist and dramatist buried in Cookham - Rev. Thomas Whateley 1797–1837, vicar, a leading promoter of the principles of the new Poor Law
- Guglielmo MarconiGuglielmo MarconiGuglielmo Marconi was an Italian inventor, known as the father of long distance radio transmission and for his development of Marconi's law and a radio telegraph system. Marconi is often credited as the inventor of radio, and indeed he shared the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics with Karl Ferdinand...
, wireless pioneer, lived on Whyteladyes Lane, and is reputed to have conducted experimental transmissions from there in 1897. - Henry Thomas RyallHenry Thomas RyallHenry Thomas Ryall was an English line, stipple and mixed-method engraver and later used mixed mezzotint.Ryall was appointed the royal engraver by Queen Victoria. Forty of his works appear in the National Portrait Gallery in London.-Life:...
1811-1867, the engraver - Frank SherwinFrank Sherwin (artist)Frank Sherwin was born in Derby and studied at the Derby School of Art and then in Chelsea, London at the Heatherleys School of Fine Art.He specialised in watercolours, but is remembered for the railway posters which promoted travel to holiday destinations around Britain and were very much part of...
, railway poster artist - Sir Stanley Spencer, the artist
- Ralph ThompsonRalph ThompsonRalph Thompson MBE was an artist and book illustrator, who specialized in pen and ink sketches of animal subjects. His most noteworthy works are his series of book illustrations for the famous naturalist and author Gerald Durrell in the period 1954 to 1964 when Durrell was associated with the...
, the animal artist and illustrator - Frederick WalkerFrederick Walker (painter)Frederick Walker was an English social realist painter and illustrator described by Sir John Everett Millais as "the greatest artist of the century".__NOEDITSECTION__-Early Life and training:...
ARA - Admiral Sir George Young, proposer of the settlement of New South WalesNew South WalesNew South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
Celebrities
Cookham is also home to celebritiesCelebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
such as:
- Businessman Gerald RatnerGerald RatnerGerald Irving Ratner , is a British businessman. He was formerly chief executive of the major British jewellery company Ratners Group...
- Comedian, Chris BarrieChris BarrieChris Barrie is a British actor. He first achieved success as a vocal impressionist, notably in the ITV sketch show Spitting Image...
- Comedian, Tim Brooke-TaylorTim Brooke-TaylorTimothy Julian Brooke-Taylor OBE is an English comic actor. He became active in performing in comedy sketches while at Cambridge University, and became President of the Footlights club, touring internationally with the Footlights revue in 1964...
- TV presenter Ulrika JonssonUlrika JonssonEva Ulrika Jonsson is a Swedish television presenter in the UK, who became famous as a TV-am weather presenter and moved on to present Gladiators and became a team captain of the show Shooting Stars.-Early life:...
- TV presenter and artist Timmy MallettTimmy MallettTimmy Mallett is a TV presenter and broadcaster in the UK. He achieved cult status on BBC Radio Oxford and Manchester's Piccadilly Radio and later on TV-am...
- Singer Chris ReaChris ReaChris Rea is an English singer-songwriter, recognisable for his distinctive, husky voice and slide guitar playing. The British Hit Singles & Albums stated that Rea was "one of the most popular UK singer-songwriters of the late 1980s. He was already a major European star by the time he finally...
- Sports presenter, Jim RosenthalJim RosenthalJim Rosenthal is a sports presenter on British television.-Early life:Rosenthal grew up in Oxford and attended Josca's Preparatory School before going to Magdalen College School...
- 2003 Rugby World Cup winning coach, Sir Clive WoodwardClive WoodwardSir Clive Ronald Woodward OBE is an English former rugby union player and coach. He was coach of the team from 1997 to 2004, managing them to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He is currently the British Olympic Association's Director of Elite Performance.-Early life:Woodward was born in Ely...
- Former London Irish and Ireland Rugby player, Conor O'SheaConor O'SheaConor Michael Patrick O'Shea is a former rugby union player who played at full back for Ireland, Lansdowne R.F.C. and London Irish. He is Director of Rugby at Harlequins F.C..-Early life and education:...
- The violinist, Alexandra Wood
- Cookery author & AGA Demonstrator, Lucy Young
- Cartoonist, writer and creator of Tamara Drewe, Posy SimmondsPosy SimmondsRosemary Elizabeth "Posy" Simmonds MBE is a British newspaper cartoonist and writer and illustrator of children's books. She is best known for her long association with The Guardian, for which she has drawn the cartoons Gemma Bovery and Tamara Drewe , both later published as books...
- Conference Marketing Guru, Sara TaylorSara TaylorSara Marie Taylor is a public relations consultant who was the Director of the White House Office of Political Affairs and Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush from February 2005 to May 30, 2007. A Republican campaign strategist, field operator, pollster, she was one of George W. Bush's...
- Queen's John DeaconJohn DeaconJohn Richard Deacon is a retired English multi-instrumentalist and song writer, best known as the bassist for the rock band Queen. Of the four members of the band, he was the last to join and also the youngest, being only 19 years old when he was recruited by the other members of the band...
In 2002, Timmy Mallett
Timmy Mallett
Timmy Mallett is a TV presenter and broadcaster in the UK. He achieved cult status on BBC Radio Oxford and Manchester's Piccadilly Radio and later on TV-am...
painted a series of portraits of well-known village residents as part of the celebrations for the Queen's Golden Jubilee. A selection of the portraits can be viewed at his web site http://www.brillianttv.co.uk/timmymallett/jubilee.html.
Town twinning
Cookham participates in town twinningTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
to foster international relations.
Saint-Benoît, Vienne
Saint-Benoît, Vienne
Saint-Benoît is a commune in the Vienne department in the Poitou-Charentes region in western France.-References:*...
, a village near Poitiers
Poitiers
Poitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Trivia
- In 2002, Cookham was at the centre of a row over the Department for Work and PensionsDepartment for Work and PensionsThe Department for Work and Pensions is the largest government department in the United Kingdom, created on June 8, 2001 from the merger of the employment part of the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security and headed by the Secretary of State for Work and...
' description of the village's social profile as somewhat spoiled by the gin and jag brigade http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,867164,00.html.
- In 1997, 1999 and 2006 Cookham had its own radio station Cookham Summer FM which took place at the railway station waiting room and included a large number of Cookham residents. http://www.cookham.com/cookhamsummerfm/Index.htm.