The Eastern Daily Press of 12th June, 1906 reported on the third annual ploughing match held at the Queens Head Inn, on the previous Wednesday. Under the stewardship of G Banham and D Woodrow, the 44 competitors ploughed a field lent by Mr W Neale, with horses and plough lent by Mr S Dixon. The…
‘Harvest Frolic’ at the Queen’s Head
On the last Friday of September, 1894, and in celebration of the end of the Harvest, about fifty people sat down to a ‘repast of good old English fare‘ provided by the landlord of the Queens Head Inn, Charles Allen. The guests were seated at tables which had been set out in the large barn…
1638: Emigration to New England
Selling up and leaving Great Ellingham Around 1638, miller Stephen Paine together with his wife Rose, three sons and four servants, left the village of Great Ellingham for a new life on the other side of the World. It is said that Stephen Paine sold his property ‘Heynons’ in Great Ellingham to his father-in-law (John…
Toast of the Great Ellingham Bowls Club
Great Ellingham had a thriving Bowls Club during the 1930s, with their annual dinner and prize distribution for the years 1933 to 1935, taking place in the Parish Room. The Eastern Daily Press of 29th October, 1934, reported on an attendance of around 30 members at the annual dinner, prize distribution and concert of the…
Farewell Sermons delivered by the Rev. Frederick Harvey
Great Ellingham Baptist Church. Photograph taken July 2019 Baptist Minister Frederick Harvey delivered his farewell sermon at the Baptist Church in Great Ellingham, in the afternoon (and again in the evening) of Sunday 4th September, 1892. The Eastern Daily Press reported of the ‘forthcoming farewell sermons’ in their edition of Thursday 1st September, 1892. The…
Anyone for Tennis?
The Eastern Daily Press of Wednesday the 26th November, 1930, reported on a social evening held at ‘the Council School, Great Ellingham’ on the previous Friday. The event, organised to boost the funds of the village Tennis Club, was described as a success. Entertainment was provided by members and friends of the club, who included…
A Quintessential Village Fete
No doubt weeks (if not months) of planning would have preceded the well-supported Great Ellingham Fete, held in the grounds of a farm in Hingham Road, on Saturday the 25th July, 1925. The Eastern Daily Press reported on the event in the edition published on the following Monday. Attended by inhabitants from the nearby villages…
Well-Situated Butcher’s Shop, Cycle Shop & Dwelling-House
Crown Inn with adjoining shops. Postcard Carol Ewin The Eastern Daily Press of the 8th August, 1913, reported that at an Auction held at the Royal Hotel in Attleborough the previous day, a lot comprising the freehold business premises in Great Ellingham, was withdrawn at £130. Perhaps there was insufficient bidding at the auction. What…
Brick Facing for the Methodist Church
Postcard of the Primitive Methodist Church. Most likely post 1898. Courtesy of Carol Ewin A report of a Bazaar to raise funds for improvements and modernisation to the Primitive Methodist Church in Great Ellingham, appeared in the Eastern Daily Press of 15th April, 1898. It was reported that ‘the congregation and friends connected with the…
Executrix being ‘one of the people called Quakers’
Founded by George Fox, the non-conformist Christian group known as the Quakers (or to use their more formal name, the Society of Friends), began to hold meetings in England around 1650. Friends Meeting House & Burial Ground at Hingham On their website, Norfolk Heritage Explorer mentions the Quaker meeting room which was built on the…