ASPECTS OF HARVINGTON'S HISTORY
A personal rendering

Coach & Horses
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STEVE COOK'S

MISCELLANEOUS

HISTORICAL

MATERIAL



INTRODUCTION

This is not a history as such although it does contain much historical material. It is a miscellany, a collection of miscellaneous material which Steve gave to various people. This page is a recognition of a man who was deeply interested in preserving the history of our village. Stephen John (1910-1994) was born, bred and died in the village, the son of John Bazaleel, village postmaster and Alice Cook, village postmistress. It is not known how much if any of his information was gathered by his mother Alice; she was certainly responsible for a large collection of annotated postcards of the village and it is she who wrote the lovely poem displayed on the home page of this website. It is however certain that Steve Cook collected historical memorabilia all his life. He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of Harvington which he would divulge to anyone who wished to listen. We at Crooked Walls would not have known of the little sketch of our house, which also happened to be the earliest depiction the church yet found, without Steve knocking on the door and befriending Joy. It is unfortunate that his knowledge and material was not recorded under one cover and much of it is now scattered amongst the then inhabitants of the village.

Every now and then I learn of yet another collection of material from Steve. Only the other day Max Byrd out of the blue passed to me various pieces of paper about early Harvington which Steve had given to his mother Dorothy Byrd.
Julian Rawes, Crooked Walls, 2025.

CONTENTS

cookhistory 001:
A sketch of Crooked Walls given to Joy Rawes née Davies by Steve Cook. Note the crenellations on the church tower, which removed in 1855. The book, which appears to be a novel, has not been traced, on the back of the photocopy is written: "Dr Cavanagh, Bedford".


full pages


sketch

cookhistory 002
Envelope containing miscellaneous material relating to Harvington, the River Avon and neighbouring villages. It was given to me (Julian Rawes) by Clive Allan in 2023, but the envelope suggests that it had a previous owner who acquired it from Steve Cook back in 1988.

Extracts from VCH / Barlichway Hundred - Salford Priors:

Steve Cook's jottings from an unknown book.

Extracts from Shakespeare's Avon from Source to Severn by Charles Showell, 1901.

cookhistory 003:
Several sheets in an envelope relating to the early history of Harvington. Donated by Max Byrd who inherited it from his mother Dorothy Byrd of Manor Farm. The writing on the envelope is by Mrs Byrd.

cookhistory 004:
The Ramells by Steve Cook - Information on the Ramells given to Judy Beason by Steve Cook and then passed to me by Colin Jones the present owner of The Limes. The Ramells owned both The Limes and The Laurels.

. .

. .

Page 1
Notes regarding the Ramells. Ex. The Pershore Book 1980 (Page 89). "In 1703 Mark Ramell of Pershore obtained a 21-year lease of the navigation rights of the Lower Avon for £328 per annum from Lord Plymouth's widow.

He was allowed to carry our Shropshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire coal and to take the profits from the sluices at Tewkesbury and Pershore. When Ramell's lease expired, the navigation was leased to others, and locks and other rights were sub-let again."

Wall tablet in church, south wall - west end: "near this place are deposited the remains of MARY RAMELL wife of Thomas Ramell of Hampton (Evesham) gent and daughter of Jonathan and FRIZWITH NORRIS of this place (Harvington). She departed this life on the 23rd day of September 1786 in the 39th year of her life."

Info conveyed to me stated that: Thomas Ramell in 1777 lived at the Homestead, with orchard and buildings (1980 *The Limes") and that his brother John Ramell, brother of above, in 1777 lived at the black and white house (opposite side of yon house & garden - Parish House. Messuage & garden - orchard total acres 124.2.18 - (for life E Bomford) 19/20th cent.

Page 2
Ramell's will 1794, can be seen at Worcs Record Office. 1st wife died 1786, 2nd wife mentioned in will. No mention in Harvington Registers of 2nd marriage.

Extract from V. le H of Worcestershire regarding Hampton Evesham.

In the Enclosure Act of 1776 one Thomas Ramell is styled Lord of the Manor.

In 1765 he had conveyed land and rents there to Charles Beufoy and he was probably succeeded in Hampton by the family. In 1713 Mark Ramell (see note) dealt with land in Hampton.

At Pershore Abbey there are several memorial stones of the various Ramells' both inside and outside the Abbey, also in the Registers. In Hampton Registers have not been checked.

In 1912 a broken flat memorial stone inscribed MARY RAME 1786 was unearthed in the churchyard some 30 yards behind the tablet inside the church. The stone was registered but today is not [to] be found anywhere.

In 1763 a bible was given to the church, one of the churchwardens who signed it was Jonathan Norris, as a witness. He was also churchwarden from 1760 to 1767, but died in 1773.

Mary Norris spinster of Harvington married William Field of All Saints, Evesham 30 March 1769 by licence.

Page 3
Elizabeth Ramell of Harvington 21 June 1828, buried aged 70. John Ramell of Bidford 20 Dec. 1828, buried aged 80.

Thomas Vale of Salford, Warwickshire, and (widower) married Mary Ramell of Harvington (spinster) 6 Sept. 1806.

Thomas, son of Thomas Vale and Mary Ramell, baptised 18 March 1798.

Charles and George, twin sons of Thomas Vale and Mary his wife, 18 Feb 1807 baptised.

There are many other entries in the Registers concerning the Rammels, Ramels, Rammells. The spelling of which alters as usual in the 19th and 18th centuries.

A book stating "The Terrier of an Estate in Harvington 1777" (now in City Archives).

This book was found by Sir Edward Elgar, who informed E.A.B. Barnard (History Evesham) who bought [it] from Thorps, St Martin Lane, London W E in July 1916. It then to our Rector Rev. James Davenport, also a noted historian, who put it in the Parish Chest. However, in 1980 all village records were collected by the County Record Office.

Eventually Ramells land etc. in Harvington became involved with the village Enclosure Act of 1786, that is, both Thomas and John.

Page 4
13 allotments of land, to Thomas Ramell in the Enclosure Act of 1786 amounting to about 100 acres or more.

For brief directions of the land concerned. Roundhill, near river, today occupied by Mr John Byrd; the Longlands today occupied Mr Metcalf toward the Mill House; behind the present cricket club & river, Lamb Pit, and of Finch Lane, now rented by Coley's land otherwise. Coley's fruit stall on the top road.

Dean & Chapter of Worcester and their copyholders Thomas Ramell (6-yard lands) names of the allotments as in 1786.

  • Roundhill, Berry Lynch
  • The Moors, Churchwardens Lane
  • The Rectors
  • Crooked furlong
  • " " " " " , Hole furlong, Beckstone furlong.
  • Broach furlong.
  • Lampit
  • Ground & Homestead
  • Longlands
  • The Marles
  • Parsonage Leys

S.J. Cook 1983

Note: the Terrier of 1777, is displayed and discussed both in Bailey's & Rawes' histories.