Homelea Farm sits along a lane off Penhill Road, and to the west of Penhill Farm.
The property has been known as Penhill Lane Farm, Low Lane Farm and Low Farm. However by the 1930s, it is known as Homelea Farm.
For ease of reference, I will usually refer to the property as Homelea Farm whether or not it called ‘Homelea Farm’ at that particular time.
The farm is one of only a few properties in Penhill Road. This road has changed very little over the last few hundred years.
When was it Built?
The Great Ellingham Tithe map and schedule was prepared in December 1843. Homelea Farm did not exist at this time. However, the farm appears on the First Edition of the Ordnance Survey Map c.1881.
Accordingly, we can be confident that the farmhouse was built after 1843 but before 1881. Nonetheless as you will see further in this article, I have managed to narrow the possible build date to between 1843 and 1861.
Sources for the History of the Property
The national census returns are an excellent source for information. However, they tend only to list households in a particular road in Great Ellingham, although occasionally there is mention of ‘farm’ or the larger properties. For example, Great Ellingham Hall, Manor Farm, Bury Hall.
By referring to some deeds, electoral registers and the census returns, I have been able to put together a history of some of the owners and occupiers of Homelea Farm.
An Indenture dated the 13th November, 1902 contains the earliest evidence of the owners and occupiers I have (so far) come across. In 1902, the farm is being sold by Charles Corston to Henry Edgar Purkiss.
The deed mentions that Homelea Farm was “formerly in the occupation of Samuel Dixon then of the said Charles Corston and then of Henry Edgar Purkiss.”
It also tells us that the barn and lands were (earlier) purchased by “Robert Lovett now deceased of Theophilus Smith“. Further the land on which the property was built is the ‘2nd allotment’ awarded to Benjamin Turner by the Commissioners under the Great Ellingham Inclosure Act c.1800.
Indentures recite details from earlier deeds – usually word for word. Accordingly, I believe the details contained in the 1902 Indenture have been brought forward from a much earlier deed.
The deed also confirms that at some point in time, the farm is occupied by Samuel Dixon prior to Charles Corston.
Inclosures
Left: Extract from 1802 Map of Great Ellingham. Russell James Colman Plans. Norfolk Record Office Cat. Ref. C/Ca 1/84.
Right: Extract from an O.S. map attached to a Conveyance dated 11 October 1964. Courtesy J & A Hughes
The red star on the above extract from the Great Ellingham Inclosure Map 1802 shows the position of the 2nd allotment which had been awarded to Benjamin Turner under the Inclosure Act.
Benjamin Turner’s daughter Hannah married Theophilus Smith. In 1813, Hannah inherited her father’s property and land. Accordingly, it then follows that the late Benjamin Turner’s property and land came into the control of Hannah’s husband Theophilus Smith.
The extract from a much later O.S. Map shows the position of Homelea Farm which was built on the 2nd allotment after 1843.
I do not know when Theophilus Smith sold the barn and lands to Robert Lovett. Further, I do not know whether the farmhouse was built during the ownership of Theophilus and Hannah Smith, or during the ownership of Robert Lovett.
Robert Lovett
I believe Robert Lovett is the 57 year old miller, Robert Lovett who, at the time of the 1851 census, is living in Mill Lane, Besthorpe, Attleborough.
Marriage to Pleasance Wright
According to the census, Robert Lovett was born c.1793 in [Great] Moulton.
On the 17th October, 1817, he marries Pleasance Wright in Attleborough.
The couple had three known children who were all baptised in the Wesleyan Methodist Church at New Buckenham. Mary Ann Lovett born on 17th December 1820, Robert James Lovett born in September 1826 and John Wright Lovett born 2nd July, 1829.
Sadly Pleasance Lovett died on the 13th May, 1831.
Marriage to Maria Betts
Left with three young children, it is no surprise to find that Robert Lovett married again.
On the 20th December, 1832, Robert (said to be a widower of Besthorpe), marries Maria Betts in Old Buckenham. Maria is a spinster and around 10 years older than Robert.
1841 census
The 1841 census finds miller Robert Lovett with his (second) wife Maria and his sons Robert 13 and John 10 living in Besthorpe. Robert has 15 year old Samuel Smith as his apprentice. The family also have a 20 year old servant Elizabeth Stevens.
1851 census
Ten years later, the 1851 captures Robert (now 57) and Maria (67) in Mill Lane, Besthorpe. Robert’s son, 21 year old John is with his father and step-mother along with a 16 year old apprentice, Great Ellingham born George Greengrass.
11 year old Sarah Bayes is now the family’s general servant. 86 year old Great Ellingham born Robert Lovett is a visitor to the household.
Deaths of Maria & Robert Lovett
On the 13th June, 1857, the Norfolk News reported on the sudden death at Attleborough of 76 year old Maria Lovett. She is described as the ‘beloved wife of Mr Robert Lovett, miller, formerly of Besthorpe’.
Nearly four years later, on the 26th January, 1861, the Norfolk News published a report of the death of 67 year old Robert Lovett of Attleborough, late of Besthorpe Mills.
Both Robert and Maria Lovett are buried in the Attleborough Methodist Church burial ground (now known as Parkside Garden, Attleborough).
In fact, this burial ground also the resting place of Robert’s first wife Pleasance and his children, Mary Ann Mallett (nèe Lovett), Robert James Lovett and John Wright Lovett.
Auction of Lovett’s Properties
Notwithstanding that Robert Lovett died in 1861, it is not until June 1873 that his executors offer Homelea Farm for sale at auction.
The following notice is published in the Norfolk Chronicle on the 14th June, 1873:
GT ELLINGHAM & ATTLEBORO’
SALTER & SIMPSON are favour with instructions from the Executors of the late Mr ROBERT LOVETT to SELL by AUCTION, at the New Inn Hotel, Attleborough, on Thursday June 26th 1873 at Half-past Four o’clock in the afternoon
Lot 1- A desirable SMALL FARM with DWELLING-HOUSE, Barn, Stable and other Buildings, and 9A 3R 8P of ARABLE and PASTURE LAND, situate at Great Ellingham occupied by Mr John Downs, who is under notice to quit at Michaelmas
Lot 2 - A DOUBLE COTTAGE with large Garden situate in Mill Lane, Attleborough, occupied by James Estoll
The New Inn, Attleborough which later became known as The Royal Hotel and now The Mulberry Tree,
the venue of the Auction on the 14th June, 1873
There may be several reasons as to why there is such a delay between Robert Lovett’s death in 1861 and the auction of his properties, including Homelea Farm. For example, Lovett’s will may contain specific instructions to his executors with regard to the timing of the sale. Alternatively, the properties may be subject to a life tenancy. An investigation of Robert Lovett’s will may provide the answer.
Nevertheless, if I am correct to believe that this Robert Lovett owned Homelea Farm, then the property was built before his death in 1861.
Occupier John Downes
The auction notice of 1873 also tells us that the property is occupied by John Downs (Downes).
The 1871 census captures 36 year old Attleborough born John Downes with his 29 year old wife Maria in Great Ellingham. Although the census does not specifically say they are living in Penhill Road, I believe they are. With the couple are their two children 2 year old Kate and five-month-old William.
John Downes is farming around 9 acres – which concurs with the size of Homlea Farm at that time.
John Downes of Chestnut Grove Farm with his grand-daughter Queenie Downes.
Photograph taken c.1896.
Courtesy Joan Barnard
The Electoral Registers for 1873 and 1874 also lists John Downes as an occupier of a farm in Penhill Road. Given that John and Maria Downes married in 1867, I wonder whether Homelea Farm was their first home together.
Jonas & Mary Ann Mallett
Prior to John Downes’ occupation of Homelea Farm, I wonder whether the property is occupied by miller Jonas Mallett. He is the son-in-law of Robert Lovett having married Robert’s daughter in 1840.
The Great Ellingham Electoral Registers for 1867 to 1872 lists Jonas Mallett as occupying freehold house and land ‘near Penhill Road’.
However, at least some of these dates may overlap with the time of John Downes’ occupation. However, by 1871 widower 55 year old Jonas Mallett is living at ‘The Green’, Great Ellingham’ (likely Town Green) and John Downes at Homelea Farm.
Samuel Dixon
The deeds confirm that at some point, Homelea Farm is occupied by Samuel Dixon.
The Electoral Registers for 1878 show that Samuel Dixon occupied ‘house & land’ in Penhill Lane. He is listed as a ‘£12 rated occupier’. This meant that his annual rent was at least £12.
He is likely the 41 year old farm labourer Samuel Dixon who, at the time of the 1871 census, is living in Old Buckenham. Samuel has a 44 year old wife Sarah Ann and three children, John 8, Thomas 5 and 4 year old Rebecca.
Sadly, Sarah Ann Dixon dies at the age of 46 in Great Ellingham in December 1874. She is buried in the churchyard of St James’s Church.
A year later, Samuel Dixon marries Jane Frost. Their marriage is registered between October and December 1875. The couple have three children before 1881. Ernest Frost Dixon born 1876, Horace William Dixon born 1877 and Eliza Maria Dixon born in 1879. Sadly, infant Ernest died before his first birthday.
Before 1879, the Dixon family moved to Bush Green.
Consequently, Homelea Farm has new occupiers.
Sources:
Transcript of New Buckenham, Wesleyan Methodist Church Baptisms 1813-1858. Norfolk Family History Society. Norfolk Record Office. New Buckenham Wesleyan Methodist Circuit. Baptisms 1812-1837 FC 72/6 MF 1602/3; 1838-1858 FC 72/7 MF1602/4.
Attleborough Wesleyan Methodist Circuit. Norfolk Record Office. Burials 1870-1959. FC 25/231 MF 1600/6
Transcript of Attleborough Methodist Church Monumental Inscriptions 1800-1969. Norfolk Family History Society.
Old Buckenham Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office; Norwich, Norfolk, England; Norfolk Church of England Registers; Reference: PD 107/10. Viewed via www.ancestry.co.uk
Attleborough Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office; Norwich, Norfolk, England; Norfolk Church of England Registers; Reference: BT ANF 1817_a-c. Viewed via www.ancestry.co.uk
Great Ellingham Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office. PD 609. Also available www.familysearch.org
GRO Index. Also viewed via FreeBMD website.
Norfolk News 26 January 1861, Norfolk News 13 June 1857. Norfolk News 26 January 1861. Norfolk Chronicle 14th June 1873. Viewed via The British Newspaper Archive
England, Norfolk, Register of Electors, 1832-1915, FamilySearch website
1799 Statement of Claims. Great Ellingham Inclosure. Norfolk Record Office. Catalogue Ref: MC 2213/118
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
Great Ellingham Tithe Map 1843. Tithe Apportionments, 1836-1929 [database online]. TheGenealogist.co.uk 2023. Original data: “IR29 Tithe Commission and successors: Tithe Apportionments” The National Archives
1841 census HO107/781/2
1851 census HO107/1823/92
1871 census RG10/1841/77-78, RG10/1841/76
1881 census RG11/1974/95
Private Deeds Collection. J & A Hughes
29 Oct 1861 Marriage. Attleborough. Norfolk Record Office; Norwich, Norfolk, England; Norfolk Church of England Registers; Reference: PD 438/8. Ancestry.com. Norfolk, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Original data: Church of England Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office, Norwich, Norfolk, England.
Find A Grave website. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/250983748/sarah-ann-dixon