History of a Small Farm in Bow Street This is one of a series of blogs which tells the history of a small farm in Bow Street, Great Ellingham. We begin at 1731. Mortgage Extract from the 1731 Indenture of Mortgage between Ann Warren, Thomas Thurlow & John Amyas. Courtesy Roger Banks On the 13th…
John Godward, Worsted Weaver, of Great Ellingham
Towards the end of the 17th century, John Godward was one of at least two worsted weavers living and working in Great Ellingham. He lived at a time before the Georgian Period. The ‘British Throne’ was occupied by Mary II and her Dutch husband and cousin William III. They co-reigned from 1689 until Mary’s death…
Local Farriers, William Reynolds & Son
William Buchan Reynolds 1822-1886. Courtesy Ollie West Harrod’s Directory of 1878 lists William Reynolds & Son as farriers in Great Ellingham. Whilst a farrier is a skilled person with sound knowledge of shoeing all types of equine feet, William Reynolds was also a ‘cow leach’ (cow doctor) as well as veterinary surgeon. From Suffolk to…
Villagers in Contravention of World War II Blackout Regulations
Emergency Powers Just days before the outbreak of the Second World War, the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939 came into effect. This new legislation gave the government “special powers to take almost any action necessary to carry out the war successfully.” The new powers controlled many aspects of everyday life during the war – including…
Addition to the Churchyard of St James
Church of St James Great Ellingham Property deeds are an extremely useful source of information for local and family historians. Not least for providing details of the owners and occupiers of properties over the years. However, deeds can also provide other snippets of information, particularly with regard to adjoining or nearby land. In this particular…
Ownership of Land in the same Family for Generations
On the 5th June, 1837, Edward Wilkins purchased the former ‘Town House’ in Long Street. Since the erection of the Wayland Union Workhouse in nearby Rocklands, the ‘Town House’ was no longer needed to house the poor of Great Ellingham. Accordingly, it became surplus to requirements. I believe this property – or at least the…
Double Cottage in Long Street Built by Local Builder
‘Roselands’ Long Street Great Ellingham. Photograph taken September 2022 The delightful house with the name of ‘Roselands’ sits on the western side at the northern end of Long Street, Great Ellingham. It was built by a local builder during the mid-Victorian era. Over the last 160 years or so, the house will have seen the…
The Smith Family move into Fir Tree Farmhouse
Fir Tree Farm. Courtesy Fiona Rainbird Clarke Hubert Flatman buys Fir Tree Farm On the 30th March, 1967, the executors of the late Ida Jackson sold Fir Tree Farm, Long Street, Great Ellingham, to Hubert Flatman. The Jackson family had occupied the property since at least 1911, when William and Alice Jackson moved in with…
Moving Forward but with a Link to the Past
Extract from Painting by B Aldous c.2006. Courtesy Angela Crocker & the Aldous family Population Although Great Ellingham saw a decrease in the population during the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century, the populace steadily increased from the 1920s. 1831-1921 Back in 1831, there were some 882 people living in the…
Ye Olde Thatche Shoppe from the 1950s
Until just after the turn of the 21st century, the fine Grade II listed house (near to the Crown Public House) in Church Street included one of the village stores. Photograph taken January 2019 Earlier History It is thought that the former copyhold building was once a medieval manor hall house. I have traced the…