‘Swamp’ can mean an area of low-lying, boggy or marshy uncultivated land. We can apply some of this description to ‘Swamp Lane’ in Great Ellingham. The area on the eastern side of the lane is certainly low, and was once part of the common of Great Ellingham. A stream or rivulet borders this area and…
The History of Swamp Lane Cottages – Part II
At the turn of the 19th century, there were very few dwellings along the lane which we know today as Swamp Lane. Those that did exist were at the northern end of the lane. Part I In Part I, we discovered that at the time of the Great Ellingham Inclosures, the Commissioners awarded Alice Jessup…
The History of Swamp Lane Cottages – Part III
It is not until the 1901 census that I find the name ‘Swamp Lane’ recorded on the census returns. However, earlier electoral registers going back to at least 1878, refer to the area as ‘The Swamp’ or ‘Swamp’. Nevertheless, some of the census returns prior to 1901 refer to the few cottages along the lane…
The History of Swamp Lane Cottages – Part IV
Extract from 1906 Ordnance Survey Map. Second Edition. Surveyed in 1881. Revised 1904. Swamp Lane lies at the northern side of the main road leading from the village to Attleborough. Indeed, the lane is not far from the parish boundary. There are several dwellings (of all types) on the eastern side of the lane. However,…
Houchen’s Cottage in Hingham Road
Extract from 1802 Map of Great Ellingham. Russell James Colman Plans. Norfolk Record Office Cat. Ref. C/Ca 1/84. All rights reserved Norfolk Record Office. With kind permission of NRO At the turn of the 19th century, Stephen Houchen’s home was along the eastern side of the road to Hingham. The cottage (with a garden) stood…
The Leath Sisters agree to divide their Allotment
At the time of the Great Ellingham Inclosures c.1802, Alice Jessup claimed the following freehold properties: Messuage and 3 roods of land, occupied by herselfCottage and Garden occupied by Robert TookeCottage and Garden occupied by Edward SteelCottage and Garden occupied by Stephen Howchen Alice also claimed the following rights in respect of each of the…
Elizabeth Peas guilty of stealing a pair of John Browne’s drawers!
Illustration Christine Fuller The Norwich Mercury of Saturday 27th June, 1863, reported on several recent cases at the East Harling Petty Sessions. The report included the case of Elizabeth Peas, a single woman, of Great Ellingham. Elizabeth was charged by miller John Browne of stealing a pair of drawers at [Great] Ellingham on the 6th…
Labourer, William Carter Kerrison, charged with stealing a shirt
Illustration Christine Fuller The Eastern Evening News of the 8th January, 1906, included the following snippet: At an Occasional Court at Old Buckenham before Major E G Keppel, William Carter Kerrison, Great Ellingham, labourer, was charged by Police-Sergeant Parsley with stealing a shirt from a linen line, the property of George Littleproud, Swan Inn, Attleborough,…
James Carter – a Drunk & Disorderly Baker
Illustration Christine Fuller Towards the end of July, 1874, Great Ellingham baker, James Carter, appeared before the Magistrates at East Harling. Police Constable Richard Hannant found Carter to be drunk and disorderly at Great Ellingham on the 9th July. The Magistrates found James Carter guilty of the offence. He was fined £1-8-0d (one pound and…
Skipper & Skipper caught up in ‘Wholesale Sheep-Stealing’
Illustration by Christine Fuller The edition of the Bury & Norwich Post of the 25th November, 1846, contained the following article: WHOLESALE SHEEP-STEALING – On Friday last, two men passed through Wymondham, driving 14 fat sheep, one of which they sold to Mr Cross, a butcher, for 35 shillings, saying they were in the employ…