Okeys (Oakeys)
The property known as Okeys could once have been found when the lane crosses the high point of Wainlode Hill before descending to the riverside and the Red Lion. It is not there anymore.
At the time the Inclosure Act came to Norton in 1806 the property consisted of two plots. Plot No 222, an allotment in Ridley Field, and Plot No 223, a house, garden and orchard, both were owned by Thomas Okey and it was no doubt that it was his family that gave the plot its name. There are now a pair of semi-detached cottages on the opposite side of the road but there was nothing there at this time.
The Okeys had been at Norton since at least 1600 and likely earlier. The surname appears in records throughout the seventeenth century although the surname gets spelt Okey, Ockey and Ockie at various times. In 1608 the Right Honourable Henry, Lord Barkley, conducted a survey Gloucestershire in order to ascertain its military potential and this survey lists 2 Okeys at Norton. Robert, a yeoman aged about 40, “of the meanest stature either fitt for a pyoner or of little other use” and William, a husbandman also aged about 40, “of the tallest stature fitt to make a pykeman”. It isn’t known where these early Okeys lived but here at Wainlodes is certainly possible.
From 22 March 1828 the Norton Court Estate papers contain a bundle of deeds ending with a release from Elizabeth Okey to Edward Webb relating to “a cottage, orchard and garden containing 37 perches or thereabouts bounded on the north by land theretofore belonging to William Butt on the east by the land next theretofore described on part of the west by land theretofore of William Butt and on other part of the west by the road leading from the Hamlet of Apperley into the Gloucester and Tewkesbury Turnpike Road. Also a piece of land in East Rodley Field containing 3 acres 18 perches all which cottage and premises were at the top of Wainlode Hill and all houses etc pastures common and commonable lands etc”. This is when the cottage ceased to be in the hands of the Okey family and passed into the Norton Court Estate.
The property has next been identified in 1861 when it was occupied by William Mann. It was still described as being a house and garden of 37 perches and an allotment in East Rodley Field of 3 acres 18 perches but the spelling had changed to Oakeys. Interestingly, at this time a Norton Court Estate plan shows that there was building work in progress just across the lane where the pair of houses now stand. Born in 1796 William Mann, an agricultural labourer, had married Elizabeth Tombes, born at Norton in 1791, at St Mary’s, Norton, in 1820. Although Norton Court Estate records were still showing the house as William’s he had actually died in April 1856. In 1861 and 1871 Elizabeth was a widow with her young grandson, also William, living with her. In 1871 she appears to have been living near the Green and it can be supposed that sometime in the 1860s the old Okey cottage was cleared. Elizabeth died in January 1873.
For many years there was a shed/garage remaining against the laneside on this site and it was still here fairly recently [2000 ?] but the plot is now empty of buildings although there is still a gateway here.
