Extract from 1906 Ordnance Survey Map. Second Edition. Surveyed in 1881. Revised 1904
‘Home Farm’ is one of Great Ellingham’s most delightful historical houses. Located in Long Street, its origins go back several centuries. However, I do not know when it was built. Having said that, I know that it was in existence in 1734 when Roger Selth sold it.
Cemetery Farm
Home Farm was once known as Cemetery Farm. The name probably arose as the farm is adjacent to the track once used by members of the Baptist Church to egress from the Baptist’s Burying Ground. The name ‘Cemetery Farm’ is certainly in use by the turn of the 20th century.
In other articles, we have looked at the owners and occupiers of the farm from at least 1734 to the tenure of Joseph Warren, who died in 1900. Joseph Warren inherited the farm along with other land and property, from his maternal grandfather, John Whittred.
Whittred purchased the farm around 1812 from John Wiggett. In 1831, Whittred also purchased an adjoining farm which, for a good many years, was owned by the Brooke family (‘the Brooke Farm’). This resulted in the enlargement of Cemetery Farm itself.
Gilbert Ebenezer Lincoln
On the 11th October, 1904, Gilbert Ebenezer Lincoln purchased Cemetery Farm from the two surviving executors of the late Joseph Warren.
The farm was offered for sale by private treaty in the May of the previous year. It comprised some 56 acres of mixed soil land with a ‘Capital House & Premises’ in good repair. There were also two cottages adjoining. These two cottages had been built upon the land once part of the Brooke Farm.
I am uncertain as to whether Gilbert Lincoln also purchased the cottages.
1911 census
Nevertheless, the national head-count of 1911 captures 65 year old Gilbert Lincoln at Cemetery Farm. The farmhouse had 7 rooms (this did not include any closet, kitchen or scullery). With him is his wife, 66 year old Harriet and their 38 year old son Allan.
Although Gilbert is noted on the census as the ‘head’ of the household, it is Allan Lincoln who is described as a farmer. His father Gilbert is a farm labourer. All members of the family were born outside the village.
Gilbert and Harriet Lincoln had three children during their 41 year marriage – all of whom are still alive at the time of the census.
In 1919, Harriet Lincoln died at the age of 74. She was buried in the churchyard of St James, Great Ellingham on the 8th April, 1919.
1921 census
The census of 1921 census finds 48 year old Allan Lincoln as head of the household at Cemetery Farm. Living with Allan is his 75 year old widowed father Gilbert and his 50 year old married sister, May Nickalls.
In 1922, Gilbert Lincoln transferred the ownership of Cemetery Farm to his son Allan.
Deaths of Gilbert and Allan Lincoln
Gilbert Ebenezer Lincoln died in 1928 at the age of 83. He was buried in the churchyard of St James on the 7th March, 1928. Allan Lincoln continued at Cemetery Farm until his death on the 9th April, 1939.
Allan Lincoln left everything he owned to his sister May Nickalls. In Allan’s will, May is described as the wife of Jarrett Nickalls. Assuming that Allan owned Cemetery Farm at the time of his death, May also inherited Cemetery Farm.
Dick & Irene Lebbell
The deeds to an adjoining property, the former Day School, mention that Irene Lebbell was at Cemetery Farm in June 1948, when she purchased the former Day School property. She lived at Cemetery Farm with her late husband, Dick Robert Barnard Lebbell, who died in 1947.
Hubert Charles Flatman
Hubert Flatman and his wife Rosalind purchased Cemetery Farm in 1948. It was the Flatmans who changed the name of the farm from Cemetery Farm to Home Farm.
Hubert Flatman also purchased Broadmarsh Farm as well as Fir Tree Farm, with a view to amalgamating the land. The house, Fir Tree Farm, was sold by Hubert Flatman to Donald and Doris Smith in November 1967. The farmhouse of Broadmarsh Farm was demolished after it had fallen into disrepair.
Sources:
Private Deeds Collection. David & Julia Matthews
Private Deeds Collection. Tim & Hayley Howes
1911 census RG14/11473/79
1921 census RG15/9790 ED5, Sch 86
Great Ellingham Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office PD609. Images available to view via www.familysearch.org. Also subscription sites including www.ancestry.co.uk & FindMyPast.co.uk
Private Deeds Collection Sabrina Hassell
England & Wales National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills & Administrations 1858-1995. Allan Lincoln died 9 April 1939. Probate 1 May 1939 Norwich. Probate of Allan Lincoln 01.05.1939. Will dated 22.08.1927. Copy obtained Find a will website