Bury Hall. Courtesy Emma Wilson
Following the Rushbrooke family’s emigration to New Zealand in 1897, William Downes moved into Bury Hall Farm with his wife and family.
Early Life
William Downes was born in Attleborough on the 27th July, 1860. He was the seventh of eight children born to James and Ann Downes (née Page).
He spent the first twenty years of his life with his parents in Attleborough. The family moved around the Workhouse Common/West Carr area of Attleborough, before moving to Buntings Lane, Rockland All Saints.
The 1881 census captures William with his parents in Buntings Lane, Rockland All Saints. His father, James, was farming some 46 acres. James Downes was also a Methodist lay preacher.
Marriage
In 1883, William Downes married Holme Hale born Annie Julia Crawford.
1891 census
The national head-count of 1891 finds William and Annie at Norrolds Farm, Rockland All Saints. By this time, the couple had four children – Florence Emily aged 7, Walter William 5 and one month old twins, Wilfred James and Eva Maude Mary. Sadly, the couple buried Wilfred James later the same year.
The Downes Family comes to Bury Hall
Ten years later, the Downes family were at Bury Hall, Great Ellingham. William Downes leased the farm from Lord Walsingham. His eldest brother, John, lived at Chestnut Grove Farm, Great Ellingham with his wife and family.
1901 census
The 1901 census captures the Downes family at Bury Hall. William Downes is 40 years of age and his wife, Annie Julia, 38. The couple now have nine children:
Florence aged 17, Walter 15, William 14, Gertrude 12, Eva 10, Lilian 8, Sylvia 6, Marjorie 3 and one year old Wilfred. A further daughter, Annie, was born later in 1901.
Purchase of Semi-Detached Cottages
In 1910, William Downes purchased a pair of semi-detached cottages along the Attleborough Road. He still leased Bury Hall and the farm from Lord Walsingham.
1911 census
William Downes (leaning in the doorway) with some of his children at Bury Hall
Courtesy Theresa Downes
The 1911 census finds William Downes still farming at Bury Hall. Five of the children are still living at home:
18 year old Lilian is employed as a teacher at Rockland All Saint, Sylvia aged 15 is training to be a teacher – she may well be a pupil teacher at Rockland All Saints. At 13, Marjorie is also studying to be a teacher. The youngest two children – Wilfred 11 and Annie 9, are both attending school.
Purchase of Bury Hall Farm
Conveyance Deed dated 10th April 1917. Rt. Hon. Lord Walsingham to William Downes. Bury Hall Farm. Courtesy Emma Wilson
In 1917, William Downes takes the opportunity to purchase Bury Hall farm from the Rt. Hon. Thomas, Baron Lord Walsingham, at a price of £3,000. The transaction was completed on the 10th April, 1917. The following day, William Downes completed a mortgage to secure the sum of £2,000 with the Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation.
1921 census
The 1921 census undertaken on the 19th June, 1921, shows 60 year old William Downes at Bury Hall Farm with his 59 year old wife Annie.
The census also captures four of the Downes children at Bury Hall.
At 30, Eva Downes is employed by Barclays Bank as a ledger clerk, 21 year old Wilfred is a stock feeder ‘at home’ and 20 year old Annie is carrying out housework ‘at home’.
28 year old Lilian (now married and listed as Lilian Rosalie Bowen), is also at Bury Hall. Given that Lilian’s home is in Banham, she was almost certainly visiting her parents on census night.
Employer
The 1921 census also tell us that William Downes employed several local men.
53 year old Herbert Kittle worked for William Downes as a cowman. William also employed 34 year old Bertie Bowen, 26 year old James Catling, 66 year old Charles Starke and 14 year old Jeremiah Edwards, as agricultural labourers.
Death of Daughter
Sadly, William and Annie Downes buried their 23 year old daughter, Marjorie Adelaide Downes, in the churchyard of St James’s Church, Great Ellingham on the 15th October, 1921.
Sale of Bury Hall
On the 5th December, 1932, at the age of 72, William Downes sold Bury Hall Farm (and the double cottage along the Attleborough Road), to Frederick James Rivett.
Deaths of William & Annie Downes
William Downes died the following year. He was buried in the churchyard of St James’s Church on the 22nd August, 1933. His wife, Annie Julia, survived him by nine years. She died in 1942, and was buried in the same churchyard on the 5th October 1942.
Sources:
Attleborough Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office PD 438. Viewed via www.ancestry.co.uk
Great Ellingham Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office PD 609. Also available www.familysearch.org and www.ancestry.co.uk
1841 census HO107/781/1
1851 census HO107/1823/22
1861 census RG9/1237/14
1871 census RG10/1841/13
1881 census RG11/1974/1924
1891 census RG12/1550/77, RG12/1549/70
1901 census RG13/1867/69, RG13/1867/80
1911 census RG14/11473/98, RG14/11473/138
1921 census RG15. Registration District 231. Great Ellingham Schedule 37. Viewed via www.findmypast.co.uk.
Marriage. Downes, William. Crawford, Annie Julia. Jun Qtr 1883. FreeBMD website
Bury Hall Deeds. Emma Wilson