Many written accounts of ‘everyday histories’ focus on prominent figures and major events. However, it is the documenting of the working class which preserves the lived experiences of ordinary people. We are indebted to Great Ellingham man Harry Rix. In 2001, 80 year old Harry decided to record some of his boyhood memories of the…
Harry Rix’s Early Boyhood Recollections of Great Ellingham – Church Street
Many of us will have memories of our childhood. For example, recollections about our family, where we lived and went to school, the names of our friends and neighbours, and who else lived in our street. The recording of our memories ensures a long lasting legacy for the next generations. Similarly, the recording of local…
Harry Rix’s Early Boyhood Recollections of Great Ellingham – Chequers Lane & into Hingham Road
I have no doubt that many of the people living in the village today will remember Harry Rix. He was an upstanding member of the community and, for many years, was a member of the Parish Council. Harry, with the full name of Henry Robert Rix, was born in a cottage in Long Street on…
The Prince of Wales & the Cottages in Watton Road
The three pairs of semi-detached cottages with the former Prince of Wales Inn to the right along the Watton to Attleborough Road. March 2026Courtesy Alison Crowter The Prince of Wales Inn and the three pairs of semi-detached cottages (six in all) may have been built at a similar time i.e. between 1843 and 1868. Extract…
Occupiers of the Cottages in Watton Road 1891-1942
The three pairs of semi-detached cottages with the former Prince of Wales Inn to the right along the Watton to Attleborough Road. March 2026. Courtesy Alison Crowter The above photograph shows the former Prince of Wales Inn (on the far right) and the three pairs of semi-detached cottages. These may have been built at a…
Francis Colman Negus’s Tenure of Great Ellingham Hall
Great Ellingham Hall 1960sCourtesy of Susan Fay Great Ellingham Hall and the ‘Ellingham estate’ came into the ownership of the Coleman family in 1712. Francis Coleman purchased the estate from the Potts family. Francis Coleman’s Children The surnames ‘Coleman’ and ‘Colman’ are consistently interchangeable in records. However on the most part, ‘Colman’ seems to be…
Fysher Colman’s Tenure of Great Ellingham Hall
Great Ellingham Hall 2020Courtesy Tracy Knowles Great Ellingham Hall is a delightful centuries old moated manor house in the heart of Great Ellingham. This Grade II listed building is tucked away in its own grounds off Penhill Road. Other articles on this website cover the earlier history of the house and the Manor of Ellingham…
Long Street Dwelling at the corner with Penhill Road
In the past, property ownership was proven through a bundle of title deeds. These were handwritten paper documents which are then passed down from owner to owner. Today one still has to prove ownership to a property but, with the modern land registration system, it is usually much simpler to do. Historical deeds record details…
Francis Coleman’s tenure of Great Ellingham Hall
Great Ellingham HallPhotograph taken September 2020 Ancient Moated Farm House White’s Directory of 1864 refers to ‘The Hall’ at Great Ellingham as “an ancient moated farm house, formerly the seat of Sir Roger Potts, Kt., is now the residence and property of Benj. Barnard, Esq., on whose estate a remarkably fine stone celt and a…
Harry Rix’s Early Boyhood Recollections of Great Ellingham – Attleborough Road
The recording of everyday histories is of vital importance. Written accounts often focus on prominent figures and major events. Documenting daily life preserves the lived experiences of ordinary people. Great Ellingham is particularly indebted to two Great Ellingham inhabitants who recorded some of the history and life in the village: William Robert Lebbell (1884-1965) and…