James Houchen was a Great Ellingham man ‘born and bred’. From his birth in 1847 until his death in 1916, James Houchen lived his entire life in Great Ellingham – and, quite possibly, in Long Street. At one time, James’s parents, Francis and Matilda Houchen lived at a farm towards the southern end of Long Street. This farm was later known as Broadmarsh Farm.
James Houchen married Hannah Dye in 1870. The couple had four children. Jane Louisa (known as Louisa) born in 1870, twins Selina and Alfred born in 1872, and Ada Alice in 1874.
Louisa remained unmarried. Selina Houchen married local man, Herbert Barnard Lebbell. Alfred married Rosetta Pavis and Ada Alice married Hashabiah Hardy Kemp.
Three Cottages
I do not know when James Houchen purchased his first property in the village. However, on the 11th October, 1897, he bought three cottages in Long Street – a detached dwelling and a nearby double cottage, for £150, from the executors of James Farrow.
The detached dwelling in Long Street purchased by James Houchen in 1897
Photograph courtesy Ian Butler
On the left is the double cottage purchased by James Houchen with the detached dwelling in 1897
On the same day, Houchen mortgaged them to Frederick Oddin Taylor for £100 (plus interest).
Parcel of Land
The next day, James Houchen mortgages around an acre and a half of land near to, or adjoining, Long Street, to the same Frederick Oddin Taylor.
Two Messuages in Three Dwellings
Houchen also owned ‘two messuages in three dwellings’ in Long Street, not far from the detached dwelling and double cottage which he purchased from Farrow’s executors. However, I do not believe that these ‘two messuages in three dwellings’ were mortgaged to Taylor.
The ‘Two Messuages in Three Dwellings’ once owned by James Houchen in at least 1897
Photograph taken April 2020
Double Cottage
The Double Cottage in Long Street purchased by James Houchen in 1911
Courtesy Georgina Wing
On the 7th March, 1911, at the age of 63, James Houchen buys a double cottage in Long Street from his son-in-law, Herbert Barnard Lebbell. I suspect that Houchen purchased the double cottage so that his daughter and son-in-law could move away from the village.
The 1921 census captures blacksmith and cycle repairer, 47 year old Herbert Barnard Lebbell, with his 48 year old wife Selena and three sons in Cock Street, Barford.
The Houchen’s Home
Extract from 1906 Ordnance Survey Map. Second Edition. Surveyed in 1881. Revised 1904.
The arrows point to the locations of the properties in Long Street once owned by James Houchen
I assume that James and Hannah Houchen lived in one of their properties in Long Street.
When investigating some of the title deeds to the three cottages (the detached house and double cottage) which Houchen purchased in 1897 from the executors of James Farrow, I came to the conclusion that the Houchens probably lived in the detached house.
However at the time I did not know that James Houchen also owned other property in Long Street. Accordingly, it is possible that the Houchens occupied one of the other properties – perhaps the detached property, which later became known as ‘Ebenezar’, then ‘Rosedene’ and (as it is today), ‘White Wings’.
Parish Council
James Houchen was a member of the Parish Council. In at least 1909 and 1913, he was one of two overseers for the parish. The overseers were tasked with administering ‘poor relief’ in the village.
Death of James Houchen
James Houchen signed his last will and testament on the 6th January, 1910. This is before he buys the double cottage from his son-in-law, Herbert Barnard Lebbell. James Houchen died in Great Ellingham on the 29th December, 1916.
Content of the Will
James Houchen appointed his wife Hannah, his son Alfred and son-in-law Hashibiah Kemp as his executors and trustees.
Hannah has the use of all his household furniture, plate, linen, china, glass, books, pictures, prints, provisions and other effects for her life, or, until she remarries. These effects will then be disposed of with any proceeds from a sale falling into James Houchen’s residuary estate.
As regards his property, James Houchen leaves all his ‘real estate’ (this includes the rents and profits) to his wife. Again this is limited to her lifetime (or until she remarries). After which, the properties are to be sold. It is then that James Houchen’s residuary estate (after all debts have been paid etc) is equally divided between his children.
Hannah Houchen moves to Suffolk
In 1919, widow Hannah Houchen along with her daughter Louisa move from Great Ellingham to Sudbury, Suffolk.
The 1921 census captures 71 year old Hannah Houchen with her 51 year old unmarried daughter Louisa at Gallows Hill, Sudbury.
Great Ellingham Properties
I do not know exactly what properties James Houchen still owned in Great Ellingham at the time of his death. However, it seems that he still owned the following properties which were sold by his executors on the 25th October, 1920.
Detached Cottage & Double Cottage Purchased from Farrow’s Exors
On the 25th October, 1920, Houchen’s executors sold the detached cottage with the double cottage (purchased by Houchen in 1897 from Farrow’s executors), to local man, Maurice Pilgrim. On the same day, Maurice Pilgrim sold the double cottage to Alfred Partridge, but retained the detached cottage.
Two Messuages in Three Dwellings
On the same day (i.e. 25th October, 1920), James Houchen’s executors sold the ‘two messuages in three dwellings’ (which included the house later known as ‘White Wings’) and a piece of land to Great Ellingham farmer, William Edward Victor Dove.
Sources:
Private Deeds Collection. Ian & Christine Butler
Private Deeds Collection. Christine Wood
Conveyance dated 17th March 1911. Lebbell to Houchen. Georgina Wing
Great Ellingham Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office PD 609. Also available www.familysearch.org
1921 census The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; 1921 Census Returns; Reference: RG 15/9744, ED 1, Sch 43; Book: 09744. Ancestry.com. 1921 England Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2025. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1921. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA) Series RG15, 1921.
Downham Market Gazette 26 April 1913
Cromer & North Norfolk Post 9th April 1909. Newspapers viewed via The British Newspaper Archive
GRO Index. Also available FreeBMD website