ROTHERHAMS OAK
Located just outside Ilshaw Heath, near Tanworth-in-Arden, and on the banks of the Birmingham and Stratford canal. It is spelt as ROTHERHAM on this and other maps but on a land survey dating back to 1790 it clearly shows the Landowners as RATHERAM. On the first census of 1841 when the family were living here the area is clearly described as "Ratherams". The addition of OAK shows up in 1851
1745 Thomas Ratheram born
1765 Married to Sarah Cotteril at Nether Whitacre Church
Thomas was a farmer and Landowner.
They had 5 children
NAME BIRTH CHRISTENED CHURCH William 1768 9 nov 1768 Tanworth Thomas 1770 8 Aug 1770 Tanworth Robert 1771 19 Nov 1771 Tanworth Charles 1772 26 Jan 1773 Tanworth John 1777 26 Dec 1777 Tanworth
1790 According to Land survey records Thomas was a an owner occupier of land near Cheedon
TITHE APPOINTMENTS 1842
TANWORTH
William was recorded as Owner and Occupier (in this instance the surname is Ratharam) for the land listed below. He was joint owner with another local farmer Richard Field.
| LAND | CULTIVATION | ACRES | ROODS | PERCHES |
| Little Meadow | Meadow | 4 | 1 | 30 |
| Rough Meadow | Meadow | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| The Fails | Arable | 6 | 3 | 28 |
| Stock Piece | Arable | 5 | 2 | 17 |
| Long Close | Arable | 5 | 20 | |
| Lower Wintertons | Arable &Meadow | 4 | 3 | 14 |
| Upper Wintertons | Arable | 6 | 2 | 26 |
| Further Hitchens | Arable | 5 | 2 | 11 |
1809 His son William married Hannah Rudge but she dies before 1841
1821 Son William born to William and Hannah
1841 William (70) living at a place named Ratherams with his son William (20) and brother Robert (65)
1842 son William married to a Elizabeth Delingpole at Aston Parish church
1843 son William born to William and Elizabeth
1851 Elizabeth and William now living at Cheedon, Elizabeth was now a widow and 'employed at house'. This was now Cheedon Farm owned by Farmer Peter Robinson. There is no record of a place or farm called Ratheram on the census. According the census there was on uninhabited dwelling entered just before Cheedon on the register so this could be the old Ratheram Farm. For some reason it was now deserted or derelict
1861 Elizabeth was now a lodger in Tanworth Cottages in the village of Tanworth-in-Arden
Tanworth-in-Arden
Ratherams Oak was back on the census in 1861 and there are now 3 dwellings bearing the name. Cheedon Farm is still occupied by Peter Robinson, The second dwelling is lived in by John Payne and his family. He is a labourer on the new canal. The third dwelling is a place called High Chimmneys.
The farm at Ratherams Oak today is not the original. It is Victorian red brick built structure but there is a plaque built into the the wall of the farm stating the year 1860. It is likely that the original farm fell into dis-repair or even burnt down around the time of the 1851 census and Elizabeth was forced to leave and take up paid work at Cheedon.
It could be at this time that the spelling of the name was changed as the plaque uses the spelling 'ROTHERHAM'
1861 Elizabeth's son William was now a chemist and druggist apprentice at Aspley a neighbouring village
1865 William married Fanny Billing
1871 William and Fanny lived at Warings Green. William was now a qualified Chemist and had set up his own business.
The Ratheram family had now lost its association with Rotherams Oak area as William and Fanny moved to Hampton-in Arden to run a Chemist and then to Glos.