Curate to Little & Great Ellingham
The Old Parsonage, once the home of George Barkley Raikes
In the summer of 1905, Little and Great Ellingham had a new curate, the Reverend George Barkley Raikes. Given that the previous curate, the Reverend Harry Parker, lived at The Parsonage in Great Ellingham, it follows that the Parsonage was the new home of George Raikes and his wife Maud.
Early Life
St Mary’s Church, Carleton Forehoe. Photograph taken October 2021
Birth & Baptism in Carleton Forehoe
Raikes was the youngest of nine children of the Reverend Francis Raikes and his wife Martha. He was born in Carleton Forehoe on the 14th March, 1873, and baptised in St Mary’s Parish Church around two weeks later.
Death of Father
Just weeks before his sixth birthday, George’s father (now in his mid-fifties) died in France on the 19th January, 1879. Francis Raikes was then the Rector of Barnham Broom and Kimberley.
1881 census
As a consequence of her husband’s untimely death, Martha and those of her children still living at home, would have to move out of their Rectory home as this would be required by the new Rector.
Accordingly, the 1881 census captures 8 year old George with his mother at the home of his maternal uncle and aunt, Robert and Kate Barkley, at the Priory, Palgrave, Suffolk. Robert and Kate Barkley had a large household which included several servants.
Education
The 1891 census finds 17 year old George Raikes as a scholar at a school at Kinglands, Shrewsbury.
By 1892, George was at Magdalen College, Oxford.
Ordination
The Reverend George Barkely Raikes was ordained in 1897. For a time, George was a curate in Portsea, Hampshire.
Marriage
George Raikes may well have been the curate at Portsea by 1901 despite the census of that year capturing 28 year old George with his mother at The Hall, Hedenham, Norfolk. Martha Raikes had four servants, including a cook, housemaid and kitchen maid.
Interestingly, 30 year old Maud Cochrane is a visitor to the household.
A marriage between George B Raikes and Maud Cochrane was registered in the Guisborough District of Yorkshire between April and June 1905. By July 1905, George and his wife were in Great Ellingham.
Football & Cricket
George played both football and cricket whilst at school in Shrewsbury, and during his time at Oxford University.
A goalkeeper, George also played for Wymondham Town Football Club and represented Norfolk FA. He also played cricket at county level for Norfolk and Hampshire.
Reverend George Barkley Raikes sporting his England jersey. Photograph courtesy of Wymondham Town Football Club
George also played for England in four international football games. He made his first appearance at the age of 22 when he played in a British Championship Match at Queen’s Club, West Kensington, London on the 18th March, 1895. England drew 1-1 with Wales.
George’s last international game was on the 4th April, 1896, in another British Championship Match when England played Scotland at Celtic Park, Glasgow. On this occasion, Scotland beat England by 2-1.
Great Ellingham Cricket Team
Being a distinguished sportsman, it is no surprise to find that George Raikes played for the Great Ellingham Cricket Club.
In July, 1905, George was part of the Great Ellingham Cricket team who played against Billingford in the Mid-Norfolk Village Shield.
The Norwich Mercury of the 22nd July, 1905, reported that the “Ellingham team included a prominent player in the person of the Rev. G B Raikes ..“. However, despite the inclusion of the George Raikes, the Ellingham team which included J Saunders, F Lake, H J Neave, W Purdy, W Lebbell, A J Field, C Jude, B Wilkins and the Reverend E Polehampton, lost the match.
Moving On
It appears that George and Maud’s time in Great Ellingham was short.
The Beverley & East Riding Recorder of the 26th August, 1905, reported that “The Duke of Portland has just appointed the Rev G B Raikes, the well-known cricketer, who is at present curate at Great Ellingham, Norfolk, to be his chaplain….”
The 1911 census finds 38 year old Reverend George Raikes with his 40 year old wife Maud at The Hermitage, Welbeck, Worksop, Nottinghamshire. The couple have a cook, housemaid and parlourmaid. Although married for some 5 years, the couple have no children.
Later, George Raikes became Rector of Bergh Apton around 1920 where he remained until his retirement in 1936.
George Barkley Raikes died on the 18th December, 1966, at the Old Rectory, Lamyatt, Shepton Mallett.
Village Cricket Team
Great Ellingham continues to have a cricket team. Below are members of the Great Ellingham Cricket Club from 1952, some fifty years after George Raikes played for the team.
1952 Members of the Great Ellingham Cricket Club. Photograph courtesy of David Fowle
Footnote
During my research, I found that one of George B Raikes’ sisters, Ada, married Edward W R Clarke of Wattlefield Hall, Wymondham. The census of 1901 shows that my husband’s great aunt 16 year old Gertrude Allen of Shropham worked as a kitchen maid for Edward and Ada Clarke. Perhaps Gertie (as she was known) caught of glimpse of George on a visit he may have made to his sister!
Sources:
1881 census RG11/1853/66
1891 census RG12/2111/53
1901 census RG13/1859/70, RG13/1850/89
1911 census RG14/20273/12
Carleton Forehoe Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office. PD 327. Accessed via https://ancestry.co.uk 17th October, 2021
England Football Online website. http://www.englandfootballonline.com/ Accessed 17th October, 2021
Wikipedia website. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Raikes Accessed 17th October, 2021
Joseph Foster. Oxford Men and Their Colleges, 1880-1892, 2 Volumes. Oxford, England: James Parker and Co, 1893. George Barkley Raikes. Accessed via https://ancestry.co.uk 17th October, 2021
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995. The Reverend George Barkley Raikes. 18 Dec 1966. Somerset. Probate 18 May 1967. London. Accessed via https://ancestry.co.uk 17th October, 2021
GRO Index. FreeBMD website. Marriages Jun 1905. Cochrane, Maud. Raikes, George Barkley. Guisboro District. https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=TJl8TdcB%2F3OQPgnrZrXOgg&scan=1 accessed 17th October, 2021
Beverley and East Riding Recorder 26th August, 1905. Accessed via https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk 15th October, 2021.
Norwich Mercury 15th July, 1905. Accessed via https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk 15th October, 2021.
Norwich Mercury 22nd July, 1905. Accessed via https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk 15th October, 2021.
Bury & Norwich Post 28th January, 1879. Accessed via https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk 15th October, 2021.