Married (#2) 26.07.1997
Married 26.7.1997
Married (#2) 26.07.1997
Married 23.12.1972
Divorced 01.07.1990
Nickname: "Robin"
Born: 7, Imber Park Road, Esher, Surrey
Died: St Peter's Hospital, Chertsey, Surrey.
Cremated: Woking Crematorium.
Died following road accident which occurred on 14th May 1972 in Northam, Perth, West Australia
Married: Burnham, 06.12.1975
1881 census, per Celia Moss:
Aged 5, at Dwelling: Minster Yard
Census Place: York Minster Yard, W Beddern, York, England.Head of household: Emily B. Foster, aged 40, unmarried, born Kensington, Middlesex, England.
Aunt to Bryan Cookson.
Occ: Scholar
Reverend William H ABRAHAM MA. DD.
Vicar of St Augustine's, Hull
MA, DD
From an article in the "Hullensian" (Grammar School magazine) by Canon Jackson, Sc.D., A Canon of Durham Cathedral:
"Then there was W.H.Abraham, pale of face, with a long, very long, black beard, such as is seldom seen to-day; he was afterwards better known as the Reverend W.H.Abraham, of St. Augustine's, Hull. He was a learned theologian, and had more than a local reputation in the Christian Social Union; he was invited in connection with that society to preach more than once in St Paul's, London. I think his struggle to build a worthy church of St Augustine, Newland, Hull, broke a heart never too strong: he died in 1907 of a worn out heart. His first curacy was at All Saints, Sculcoates, in 1881. As a choir boy there I heard his first sermon. As with most choir-boys, listening to sermons was no hobby of mine; my duty was done when I had piped top-treble note A to the organist's satisfaction, and yelled "Alleluia" in Anthems at Festival's. I remember however that the Vica,r Canon Walsham, shook Mr Abraham's hand in the Vestry saying: "Thank you for an excellent sermon."Occ: per 1881 Census: Curate of Sculcotes
1st B.A. London University
Died: Hull
Born: Prebendal House, Peterborough
Died: Startforth Hall, N. Yorkshire
Buried: StartforthMarried: Married 14th January 1875, at Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate, York, by Rev. W.A.Weightman, assisted by Rev. E.A.Lane.
per 1881 census, via Celia Moss:
Cashier, Fire & Life Insurance co.
at 40 Holgate Crescent, York St Mary, Bishopshill, York, with wife and 3 daughters.
per 1881 census, via Celia Moss:
Cashier, Fire & Life Insurance co.
per 1881 Census, via Celia Moss.
2 months old.
"Aunt Minta", the watercolour painter.
Born: Selby, N. Yorkshire
Died: 12 Minster Yard, York (Buried York Cemetery)
Born: Hull
Died: 12 Skeldergate, York
Buried: York CemeteryMarried 26.03.1839 at Holy Trinity, Hull
Born: Hackney
Died aged 6 weeks
Buried: Hackney Church Yard
Reverend Charles Turner COOKSON
Born: Leeds
Baptised: 4.11.1795, Leeds Cam S John's
A.B 1834St John's College, Cambridge, B.A. 1833
Minor Canon of Peterborough Cathedral, 1833 - 1881, Vicar of Maxey, 1850 - 1881
Marr: W
Occ: Vicar of MaxeyFrom website: www.abbeyhouse.org.uk.
When Freda & Brian Fitton came to Abbey House at Maxey in 1974, together with their daughters, Kathryn and Beverley, as the first non monastic or ecclesiastical owners, we unwittingly took up duties as guardians of these old stones, and began a labour of love which has continued to the present day.
Some nine years later, German friends, who had a guesthouse in the area, had overbooked and asked us to help out. The girls by then had fled the nest and so it was, that Bed & Breakfast was born at Abbey House. It was not however, until 'retirement' that the Coach House was adapted for the purpose, with four rooms in 1991 and a further two rooms in 1994. The first thing you’ll probably notice is that the house is back to front! West End Road, formerly Stepping Lane, was the back lane to the house. Earlier, the house was served by a drive that led from the High St to the south fronts of the house and coach house.
The house is of historic interest - Grade II listed- and has always been closely associated with the abbey of Burgh, later Burgh St. Peter and subsequently, the cathedral of St. Peter's Burgh, now Peterborough.
The church of Maxey, also dedicated to St Peter, was, following dispute passed from local knight, Roger de Torpel to Benedict, the abbot of Burgh Abbey prior to 1190. Intervention by Pope Clement III in July of that year was followed in December 1191 by a bull from his successor, Pope Celestine III, confirming the church with land and advowson (the right to choose the vicar) to the office of the abbey 's almoner to enable him to maintain due hospitality and give alms. A residence for the vicar was to be provided and maintained by the almoner, who was required to pay the vicar 6 marks per annum. Records of the almoner, Brother William Morton, show that substantial roofing and renovation work was carried out in 1454/5.
The Abbey was dissolved in 1539 by Henry VIII and its Maxey possessions including the house passed with the Abbey Church (now the cathedral) to the Dean & Chapter - other buildings and lands passed to the Bishop. It is generally thought that the cathedral escaped desecration because his first wife, Katherine of Aragon was buried there - and Spain would have taken great offence.
Until 1817, the house had remained a lower 3-storey building with 4 rooms at each level and lower northward wings at each end of the building. Extensive works begun that year, removed the three internal walls of the main building, replacing them by two walls of Georgian brick. (each end of the dining room). The ceilings were also raised and larger windows and doors installed, to the effect that the upper floor was rendered little more use than a loft or store. (A small picture of the south front as it was in 1856 is in the guest lounge).
To reclaim the upper floor for use by his staff, Dr Sweeting raised the walls and incorporated a sundial by way of commemoration. He built the date in to the metal gnomon, so that viewed from either side, the date, 1881, is of course identical and it is worthwhile noting that he could not have repeated this for a further 6, 000 years - the next occasion will be 8008! The old east wing was, sadly replaced about this time by a late Victorian study which serves as the present day kitchen.
Outside, one can see the locations of earlier doors and windows. Some including windows in the old wing, have been reopened. Wells serving each end of the house now stand in the gardens of adjacent houses. The driveway to the High Street is long gone but the large curved window of C6 can still be recognised as the coach entrance. The large yew tree in the garden is believed to be the oldest in the county, approaching 800 years. It currently shelters masonry including mullions, tracery and other cut stones dug from the garden.
Inside, the guest lounge provides several earlier features: An early doorway, previously built up, which now acts as a window. Another doorway, previously built up, which used to lead into the old wing.
The large inglenook fireplace had lain hidden behind a series of later fireplaces for many years.
The floor level was much lower, the parquet floor lying upon earlier ancient floors. The manger from the stable has been put to another use, tethering ring and all. The large stone set in the wall bearing a Norman design, alternating inverted fleurs de lys, is believed to be an ancient market cross brought by Dr. Sweeting more than a century ago. On the reverse side is a damaged Saxon Cross suggesting that it dates from the period of Norman /Saxon co-existence following the Norman Conquest.
The small picture of the south front of the house, seen in the guest lounge has a story worth the telling.
Almost 20 years ago, we were visited by an elderly Australian couple, Bob & Marie Cookson, whose ancestor, the Rev. Charles Cookson lived here in the last century. At their request, I forwarded photographs of a tablet in Maxey church to the memory of Charles Cookson's daughter, Sarah Nesfield-Cookson, who had married a missionary and died in childbirth in Shanghai in 1865. Shortly afterwards, to our surprise and pleasure, we received from Australia, a photograph of a painting depicting the south front of Abbey House as it was in 1856, before the renovation work by Dr. Sweeting. The painting was by that same Sarah as a 16 year old. A copy of that photo was transferred to canvas and then hung in its present situation in the guest lounge.
Some ten years later, the parents of the Australian cricket captain, Mark Taylor, were staying at Abbey House, having seen his Ashes debut in England. They were interested in the house and because of the Australian connection; we recounted the story of the picture. Mr Taylor appeared interested in the name and asked if I had Mr Cookson 's address. It transpired that our visitor had been the bank manager at the same branch that Mr Taylor was the junior clerk. "I used to copy his signature, " he said. Small world!
Born: Brancepath
Baptised: 27.11.1800
Married: 10.10.1821. Brancepath
BURIAL: Buried in Maxey churchyard
Twin of Maria
per Edmund Cookson
1881 census: Unmarried.