During the early to mid-nineteenth century, Wymondham born Barnaby Ezekiel Barnard (also known as Barnabas Ezekiel Barnard), a yeoman, of Rockland St Peter, owned several properties in Great Ellingham.
In his last will and testament, he appointed the Reverend William Bird (also of Rockland St Peter), and Ellis Turner, a farmer of Caston, as his executors and trustees.
Following Barnard’s death in Thetford on the 5th May, 1861, probate was granted to the Reverend Bird.
However, it was not until after the death of Barnaby Barnard’s wife Ann Maria in 1865, that Barnaby Barnard’s properties were sold.
Royal Hotel, Attleborough formerly the New Inn, the venue of an Auction by Salter, Simpson & Bacon on the 13th July, 1865
Particulars & Conditions of Sale dated 13th July, 1865. Courtesy Norfolk Family History Society
An auction of Barnard’s property in Bow Street, Great Ellingham (and land along the Attleborough to Watton Road), took place at the New Inn at Attleborough on the 13th July, 1865.
The Particulars and Conditions of Sale prepared for the auction provide us with a good description of Barnard’s property which was sold in five lots. Further, the plan attached to the Particulars tell us exactly where the properties are located in the village.
Plan attached to Particulars & Conditions of Sale dated 13th July, 1865. Courtesy Norfolk Family History Society
The lots are described as follows:
Lot 1
A FARM-HOUSE, containing Parlour, Kitchen, Store Room, Back Kitchen, Three Sleeping Rooms, One Attic, and Apple Chamber. Also, Barn, Cow House, with Calves Crib, Bullock Boxes and Yards, with Shelter Sheds, Cart and Implement Lodges, Granary, Cart and Riding Horse Stables, Piggeries, Wood, Coal, Fowl, and other convenient Outhouses, with Yards, Well of Water, Garden, large and well-planted Orchard, and 16a 1r 14p of very productive Arable and Pasture Land, divided as follows:
| No. on Plan | Names of Fields | Arable | Pasture |
| 295 | The Paddock | 1A 0R 24P | |
| 296 | The Orchard | 0A 1R 30P | |
| 297 | House, Premises & Yards | 0A 0R 36P | |
| 298 | Homestead | 1A 2R 28P | |
| 301 | The Meadow | 1A 0R 27P | |
| 303 | The Three Acres | 2A 2R 38P | |
| 304 | Ditto | 2A 1R 32P | |
| 305 | Grices | 2A 1R 9P | |
| 306 & 307 | Old Meadows | 4A 0R 30P | |
| Arable | 11A 2R 29P | 4A 2R 25P | |
| Pasture | 4A 2R 25P | ||
| Total Acres | 16A 1R 14P |
A=Acres R=Roods P=Perches
The Particulars also tell us that whilst the House and Buildings are freehold, 6 acres of land are copyhold of the Mnnor of Ellingham Hall, and 3 acres and 20 perches are copyhold of the Manor of Ellingham Rectory. Rents are payable to each of the respective Manors. Tithe Rents are also payable to the Vicar and to the Rector of Little Ellingham. Land Tax also payable.
The Farm-House and land (as well as additional arable land comprised in Lots IV and V) is occupied by Robert Frost. Frost has a tenancy which runs from year to year, at an annual total rent of £56 10s 0d.
Lot 2
A DOUBLE COTTAGE with Sheds, large Garden and Land thereto belonging, now in the occupation of Thomas Saunders, and James Lister; and a small Cottage and Garden now occupied by Joseph Fisher, at annual rents amounting together to £9. The whole contains 0A 1R 36P, and abuts upon Lot 1, and the road leading to Little Ellingham. The property is freehold.
Extract from the Plan attached to Particulars & Conditions of Sale dated 13th July, 1865. Courtesy Norfolk Family History Society
Lot 3
A Clay and Tiled DOUBLE COTTAGE, with Sheds, capital Gardens, (in which is a Well of excellent Water) and Land thereto belonging containing together 0A 1R 20P, abutting upon the road from Attleborough to Watton, and Lot 1, and now in the occupation of Francis Johnston, and Richard Bass, at annual rents amounting to £8.
The Particulars also tells us that this property is copyhold of the Manor of Ellingham Rectory.
Lot 4
A Valuable Inclosure of ARABLE LAND, containing 3A 1R 4P, numbered 369 on plan, abutting upon the road from Attleborough to Watton, and lands of Mr Robert Land, and Mr John Warren, and Mr J Wade.
Save for two roods (half an acre) of land copyhold of the Manor of Bury Hall, this property is freehold. Tithe Rent Charges are also payable.
Extract from the Plan attached to Particulars & Conditions of Sale dated 13th July, 1865. Courtesy Norfolk Family History Society
Lot 5
An Inclosure of very Productive ARABLE LAND, called the 'Clay Pit Close', containing 5A 0R 24P numbered 752 and 753 on the plan, abutting upon the road from Attleborough to Watton, and lands of Mr James Barnard, Mr James Rivett, and Mr J Warrren.
This land is also freehold with Tithe Rent Charges payable.
Successful Bids at the Auction
Robert Frost
Whilst I have not seen a copy of a Deed conveying the property and land comprised in Lots 1, 2 and 3, I believe that Robert Frost successfully bid for these Lots at the auction.
Within a few months of the auction, on the 6th January, 1866, Robert Frost a farmer of Great Ellingham entered into a Mortgage Deed with spinster Mary Clark of the City of Norwich. Frost borrowed the sum of £700 plus interest at the rate of £5 per cent per annum. The principal mortgage sum together with interest was repayable on the 6th July 1866.
Extract from Mortgage Deed dated 6th January 1866 between Robert Frost & Mary Clark. Author’s own collection
The Schedule to the Mortgage Deed describes all Frost’s property and land which was secured by the mortgage. The property and land is identical to the premises and land comprised in Lots 1, 2 and 3 of the Particulars and Conditions of Sale. Accordingly, we can be reasonably certain that Frost purchased the property and land at the auction.
Fire at Frost’s Premises
Not long before Robert Frost borrowed money from Mary Clark, a fire broke out at his premises.
On Saturday the 23rd December, 1865, the Norfolk News reported on a fire occuring the previous Sunday at the premises of Mr Frost in Great Ellingham.
The Frost family were attending Chapel when the fire broke out. A barn containing corn, potatoes and straw, together with a tumbril loaded with hay and various other things, were totally destroyed. Adjoining sheds were also reported to have been destroyed.
The report told of people from all parts rendering assistance and, as luck would have it, there was little wind to fan the flames. Consequently, Frost’s dwelling house, stables and outhouses were saved.
It was not known what started the fire – although a report of the fire published in the Norwich Mercury on the 20th December, stated that “Frost is in the habit of going into the barn with a candle and lantern to cut hay, and it is supposed he incautiously snuffed the candle with his fingers.”
Nevertheless, the property was insured.
William Lebbell
By a Conveyance Deed dated 23rd October, 1865, the Reverend Henry Bird acting as the sole executor and trustee for the late Barnaby Ezekiel Barnard, completed the sale of the land comprised in Lot 4 to William Lebbell.
The Conveyance recited the fact that William Lebbell was the highest bidder for Lot 4 at the auction at the New Inn, Attleborough on the 13th July. Lebbell, a builder from Great Ellingham, purchased the land at the price of £160.
Agreement endorsed on the Particulars & Conditions of Sale dated 13th July, 1865. Courtesy Norfolk Family History Society
The 1865 Conveyance Deed between Henry Bird and William Lebbell describes the land in Lot 4 as:
ALL THAT allotment or piece of land part of a certain field called Old Field in Great Ellingham aforesaid containinig by survey three acres one rood and four perches abutting on the road leading from Great Ellingham to Watton North, on land formerly belonging to Francis Colman Negus and now to John Warren towards the South and East, and on land formerly belonging to Robert Houchen and Robert Barnard and now Robert Land and John Wade respectively towards the West, which said allotment or piece of land is numbered on the Tithe Commutation map of the said Parish of Great Ellingham 369 and is more particularly delineated and laid down on the plan thereof drawn on the back of these presents ....
Plan drawn on the Conveyance dated 23 October 1865 Reverend H Bird to William Lebbell. Author’s own collection
The Conveyance Deed also recites that half an acre of the land is copyhold of the Manor of Bury Hall. Again, this concurs with the Particulars and Conditions of Sale.
Copyhold Tenant
Extract from 1866 Admission of William Lebbell as copyhold tenant of the Manor of Bury Hall. Author’s own collection
At a Court held for the Manor of Bury Hall on the 27th August, 1866, William Lebbell was admitted as a copyhold tenant of the Manor in respect of the half an acre of copyhold land lying within a parcel of land comprising three acres one rood and four perches.
Lot 5
I have yet to discover the purchaser of ‘Clay Pit Close’.
Sources:
13th July, 1865. Particulars & Conditions of Sale. Norfolk Family History Society, 70 St Giles Street, Norwich NR2 1LS
6th January, 1866. Indenture of Mortgage. Frost to Clark. Author’s Collection
23rd December, 1865. Norfolk News. Accessed via https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk 18th December, 2020
20th December, 1865. Norwich Mercury. Accessed on microfilm at The Norfolk Heritage Centre, The Forum, Norwich NR2 1AW
23rd October, 1865. Conveyance Deed. Bird to Lebbell. Author’s Collection
27th August, 1866. Manor of Bury Hall. Admission of William Lebbell. Author’s Collection