Sir Charlie Lockrams

General information

Born 26th February 1640 and educated at Felsted School, his family were land owners and Lockram Lane is named after his great grandfather. Charlie was an immaculately dressed and well mannered gentleman despite his love of a good stiff drink and an eye for the ladies. In 1678 he claimed he was knighted for honourable services overseas although no record of his knighthood seems to exist. In March 1680 in this building Sir Charlie lost the family fortune including 1 Lockram Lane in a game of poker and fell on hard times. Charlie was arrested in 1709 for stealing, waistcoats, boots, chickens and a bottle of Gin and sentenced to hang at Chelmsford assizes. His burial is not recorded at Witham but it was assumed the sentence was carried out. Some 3 years later in 1712 a Charlie Lockram of Colchester was sent to Brentwood Gaol for execution by hanging for stealing beef. There is no record of his burial and it is believed that the ghost of Sir Charlie Lockram lives on in this very building on the top level, if you happen to see Sir Charlie, raise a glass, you are in his residence after all. To Sir Charlie, Cheers Old Sport and thank you for having us