Royal Hotel Attleborough
On the 14th June, 1906, an auction of property in Attleborough, Besthorpe, Bunwell, Deopham and Great and Little Ellingham took place at the Royal Hotel, Attleborough.
Owned by the late Mr W Dawes, the properties were sold in 12 Lots.
Great Ellingham Cottages
The properties described in Lots 9, 10 and 11 were in Great Ellingham:
Lot 9
A CAPITAL DETACHED CLAY & TILED COTTAGE, containing Sitting Room, Wash House and 2 Bedrooms, with Lean-to Shed, Fowls’ House, and W.C., Large Garden and Well of Water, being No.553 on Ordnance Map; and containing 0a 2r 19p, situated in the Main Street, near the Chapel and adjoining property of Messrs. I.O. Taylor & Sons and Lot 10, and occupied by Mr Clover, at the Annual Rent of £6.
Lot 10
A CAPITAL DETACHED CLAY & TILED COTTAGE, containing Sitting Room, 2 Bedrooms and Wash House adjoining, Lean-to Shed and W.C., Large Garden and Well of Water, being No. 552 on Ordnance Map; and containing 0a 2r 20p, situated between Lots 9 and 11, adjoining property of Messrs. I.O. Taylor & Sons, and occupied by Mr Hall, at the Annual Rent of £6.
The Lot is subject to the reservation of the existing Right of Way, and use of the Well in the Garden, by the Tenants of Lot 11, by paying their share of the expense of keeping the same in order.
Lot 11
A CAPITAL DETACHED CLAY AND TILED COTTAGE, containing Sitting Room, Wash House, and 2 Bedrooms, also Lean-to Shed and W.C., Large Garden, being No.551 on Ordnance Map; and containing 0a 2r 16p, situated adjoining Lot 10 and property of Mr G. Saunders, in the occupation of Mr Loveday, at the Annual Rent of £6.
The Tenants of this Lot have a Right of Way to, and use of the Well of Water on Lot 10, by paying their share of the expense of keeping the same in repair.
All three properties were freehold and the Buyer could take possession at ‘Michaelmas next’.
Long Street Properties
The three cottages were contiguous at the southern end of Long Street. Indeed, two of the three properties still stand today.
Extract from O.S. Map c.1945. Courtesy Ray & Maureen Beales
The above extract from a later map of 1945 shows the location of all three properties.
Extract of Map taken from documents relating to Fir Tree Farm. Courtesy Sabrina Hassell
The properties are also identified on the extract of the above map.
Cottage numbered 553 became known as Southview, 552 became Walnut Cottage (although appears to have previously been called Dunromin) and 551 is Homeleigh.
When were the Cottages Built?
We can say for certain that the cottages were built after 1802.
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
The arrow on the above extract from the Great Ellingham Inclosure Map of 1802, indicates the parcel of land on which the three cottages were later built.
At this time, the parcel of land – comprising one acre, two roods and twenty three perches (1a 2r 23p), is described as an ‘allotment upon Town Green’ and owned by farmer, Hannah Browne, who lived in the farm opposite (Broadmarsh Farm).
By 1817, the allotment was owned by Edward Houchin who still owned the piece of land around 1836. However, the cottages appear on the Tithe Map for Great Ellingham. This is dated between 1836 and 1850. Accordingly, the cottages were built during that period and, possibly, at a similar time.
Occupiers at the time of the Auction in 1906
We know from the auction particulars the names of the occupiers of the cottages in 1906.
Lot 9 (Southview), was occupied by ‘Mr Clover’, Lot 10 (Walnut Cottage) is occupied by ‘Mr Hall’ and Lot 11 (Homeleigh) by ‘Mr Loveday’.
1901 census
Clover
The headcount of 1901 captures single man, 40 year old John Clover living in Long Street. I have no doubt that John Clover is living at Southview.
Southview, Long Street. Courtesy Alan Gardiner
Born in Great Ellingham, John Clover is a self employed fowl dealer. The census states that John Clover’s home has 4 rooms.
Halls
Next along in is 44 year old Charles Halls with his 41 year old wife Rebecca and six children with ages ranging from 22 to 4. The family’s home is said to have 3 rooms.
Born in Attleborough, Charles Halls is working as an agricultural labourer. His 22 year old son, Charles, is working as a cattle man. Presumably both are employed by one of the local farms.
Again I have no doubt that the Halls family are living in the cottage which later became Walnut Cottage.
Walnut Cottage and Homeleigh Cottage to the bottom of the photograph. Courtesy Michelle Baron
Loveday
66 year old Alfred Loveday and his 67 year old wife Lydia are occupying the last of the three cottages. The couple’s home also has 3 rooms. This cottage became ‘Homeleigh’.
‘Homeleigh’ date unknown. Thanks to Margaret for the photograph
Seller
I do not know how long William Dawes of Attleborough owned the three cottages.
Nevertheless, the auction particulars reveal that Dawes owned several properties in and around Attleborough.
The 1901 census captures 88 year old widower William Dawes in Queens Square, Attleborough with two of his adult children – 45 year old Rebecca (Rebekah) and 55 year old Henry. Both are unmarried.
The census describes William Dawes as a retired watch cleaner. Indeed, William Dawes was a well-known watchmaker in Attleborough. Henry Dawes is working as a watch cleaner. Rebecca is their housekeeper.
William Dawes died on the 13th February 1906. Probate was granted to his daughter Rebekah. Accordingly, it was Rebecca Dawes who subsequently sold her late father’s property – including the three cottages in Great Ellingham.
Sources:
1906 Auction Particulars & Conditions of Sale (copy)
1802 Russell James Colman Plans. Great Ellingham. Norfolk Record Office. Catalogue Ref. C/Ca 1/84.
1799-1842 F W Horner, Records of the Surveyors to Commissioners for Inclosure in Parishes in Norfolk and Suffolk. Great Ellingham (Act 1799). Norfolk Record Office. Catalogue Ref: NRO, BR 90/2
1800 Inclosure Commissioner’s Particulars and Valuation, Great Ellingham. Norfolk Record Office. Catalogue Ref: NRO, MC 2213/119
1901 census RG13/1867/24; RG13/1867/78-79
William Dawes. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills & Administrations) 1858-1995. Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England. Ancestry.com. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.