THE RAINHAM WE LOST (Part 1-May 1999) The Rainham We Lost - Part Two (from May 1999)

The Cozenton name is though to have derived from the personal name of ‘CUSA’. the farmstead of Cusa‘s family who lived there in 1270 and the old farmhouse was thought to have been around 300 years old. (Those more knowledgeable than I may be more precise from the rake of the roof and the type of chimneys in the photograph.) The house was built to North, parallel with, and about 80 yards from, the roadway. The front facing east had the benefit of the moming sunlight although in my time this was somewhat obscured by overgrown trees and bushes. The scullery, situated at the southem end, was entered through a low heavy door and was around 28' to 30' long. Just inside the door was a large old style shallow sink on brick pillars. This was the most convenient point to the old wall and pump, only about 20’ from the back door.

Mr Richard Hodges, my uncle’s grandson, tells me that a bakers oven was later found at the rear of the scullery. Near to the door leading from the scullery into the kitchen was a thick slate worktop, probably 8’ x 4' from which milk was served. I never went into the cellar which seemed to run under both the scullery and part of the kitchen but I did see sides of pig brought up and there was a grating at the rear of the house which l presume was used for coal and logs. The main features of the kitchen were the very large Aga type cooker, a hot kettle always on top, and the dresser which took up most of the rear wall. An oblong scrubbed table was the centre of most household activities.

The front door opened into a hall between the kitchen and a sitting room with a corridor running from the hall to another wide passage which ran the length of the house to a very large living room at the northern end. A back door opened to steps loading to tennis courts (rather dilapidated) whilst wide stairs led to the bedrooms. The Front sitting room had an Adam fireplace and l understand that there was another upstairs. The settees and chairs were normally covered with blankets because dogs were always around. l don’t remember rnuch about the upstairs but the chimneys were high to avoid down draft and very wide. They were swept fairly regularly by taking a large gooseberry bush from the plantation which was weighted and lowered from the chimney top by one of the workmen.

Many youngsters obtained their conkers from the large horse chestnut trees at the roadside entrance which were also an attractive feature when in bloom. The electricity for lighting the house, cow sheds and barn was generated by an engine in an outhouse near to the back door which also housed banks of accumulators (batteries) and when running at the weekend the engine caused the lighting to flicker and dip.

Freddie Cooper

Cozenton Farm in the 1920s

Cozenton Farm in the 1920s