Ockley Families

Ansell
A very old family originating from Wotton. Many were carpenters and joiners who settled in Ockley at the turn of the century. Six generations have been traced and David claims there were Ansells in the village by 1580. (He has pieces of furniture made by his ancestor in 1620). Cecil Thomas Ansell, David’s father, was born at Hutchins — a house on the site prior to Stane Gate in Stane Street.

Calvert
Five generations of Calverts have lived at Ockley Court since 1816, the last four of which included Dorking magistrates. They have been much involved with village life especially the cricket club which Col. A. M. Calvert and his brother helped to found in 1852. Jack Calvert was club captain for 26 years from 1926.

Coldman
An old family of millers — Forest Green water mill in 1895 and Ockley water mill in 1890. Teddy Coldman as the last miller at Aylmer and is said to have run the Brewery Arms at the same time! Bert Coidnian lives at Tanyards.
Another family of the same name but of unknown relationship included Thomas Coldman who built Aylmer windmill and Edwyn — possibly a brother who died in 1894 was almost certainly the father of Edwyn Coldman who constructed the Village Hall.

Daily
About 1907 Mr. C. Daily and a Mr. Shrubwick were cobblers in the existing ad hoc workshop built next to the Laurels in Stane Street. Charles was a professional cricketer and coach for Surrey. In the early sixties the workshop served as a small public library.

Dendy
Mr. Fred Dendy, (born at Youngs Farm, Ockley 1898) started a general grocers at Orchard Cottage near the Cricketers Arms PH and John his son who continues to reside there with his own son, was born at Wolverstone Cottages further north. John Dendy was the Parish chairman from 1980 to 1985 and maintains an active interest in village affairs.

Eversheds
The earliest records so far discovered refer to a Thomas de Everesheved in 1240 in Ockley, a small village in the south of the county of Surrey, southeast England. Successive generations of our ancestors lived in Ockley until around 1500 and later in nearby villages in Surrey and the adjacent county of Sussex. In the mid-1600s a Coat of Arms was granted to John Evershed of Ockley. All today's Eversheds are descended from six 'forefathers' who all lived in Sussex during much of the 1700s.

For a comprehensive and pretty amazing family history of the Eversheds, visit their Family History

Figg
At the age of 88 Mr. Percy Figg can claim to be the oldest resident in Ockley. His father was a woodman and seven descendants still live in the village. Mr. Ephraim Figg ran the Brewery Arms for a while prior to 1946.

Hazeltine
Of farming stock, Jessie still remembers the working of both mills, Gibbs the sadlers, beer at the Brewery Arms, rope making, and water at the village pump.

Holden
The first member of this family in Ockley came from Billingshurst before 1850 and founded the wheelrights and blacksmiths. His son Edward continued the business until about 1912 after which Arthur Holden took over for 44 years before the smithies at Ockley and Okewood were sold off. Charles Holden then remained working at his place at Forest Green up to 1985 when he became 70 years old — even then he stayed on as clerk to the Parish Council, a post he held for 40 years. Charles still lives in Stane Street with Kathleen his wife a stalwart member of St. Margarets choir.

Knight
On Ockley Green is Weavers Pond which was so called because one of the family known as ‘Weaver’ Knight made basketware at a cottage west of the pond where withies were soaked until about 1912. Dick Knight was coachman to the Arbuthnots at Elderslie. Mr. S. J. Knight had an enterprise in the sale of fish next to the Cricketers Arms PH, while Kempshaw Knight vehemently sought to preserve the footpaths by repeatedly walking them. Fred Knight, who drove a lorry for Mr. Hazeltine, still lives in the village.

Lee-Steere
A family of very distant ancestry who came to Ockley in the c 16 and acquired the Manor in 1795. The estate was inherited by Mr. Charles Lee-Steere and passed to his son Gordon Lee-Steere Esq who is a farmer and Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey.

Prideaux
Sir John Prideaux’s memories of Ockley begin in the early twenties when staying with his grandparents the Arbuthnots at Elderslie. Sir John who rode to hounds until 1987 has always enjoyed and contributed to the spirit of village life.

Worsfold
Walter (known locally as ‘Jack’) came to Ockley from Forest Green in 1916 when his parents took over the Kings Arms PH. Adjacent was a stable for the business of a coal merchants run until 1969 by Jack. Later, about 1920 the stable was converted into a petrol filling station which was leased. The Worsfolds also owned the Ockley filling station further south. Mrs. Leila Worsfold lives in the village.

Other names which lie deep in Ockley history are Bravery, Eason, King, Jolly, Prevett, Rapley, Wyatt and Pearce.