‘High View’, Long Street. Photograph taken February 2023 Legend has it that the delightful house known as ‘High View’ in Long Street was built at the same time as the Wayland Infirmary in Attleborough. It has also been said that the builders carted the bricks across the fields from the Wayland Infirmary to Long Street…
Author: Heather Etteridge
The Creation of Great Ellingham Parish Council
Parish Administration Prior to 1894 Prior to the establishment of Parish Councils, the responsibility for the day to day administration of the parish fell to the rector and some of the more affluent landowners – particularly those who could read, write and keep accounts. In Great Ellingham, the parish ‘officers’ such as the churchwardens, the…
An ‘excellent tea’ served at the Baptist Chapel
Illustration by Christine Fuller A harvest thanksgiving tea was held at the Baptist Chapel in Great Ellingham during September, 1888. The Eastern Daily Press of the 14th September, 1883, reported that the chapel was ‘tastefully decorated for the occasion‘. The afternoon events included a sale of ‘useful and fancy articles’ to raise funds for chapel…
A Timely Passing through the Village
The Clock on the tower of St James’s Church, Great Ellingham. Photograph taken February 2023 ‘Smith of Derby’ writes to the Reverend Lavender Towards the end of November, 1968, the Reverend A R A Lavender received a letter from the Managing Director of the prestigious Clock Manufacturers ‘Smith of Derby’. J E Howard Smith informed…
Recollections of a Home Guard
Local Defence Volunteers to Home Guards Some of us will remember the sit-com ‘Dad’s Army‘ which was based on the Home Guard in World War 2. Dad’s Army was broadcast by the BBC from 1968 through to 1977. The Home Guard consisted of local volunteers (usually men) who were generally above or below the age…
More Recollections of a Home Guard
In a separate blog, I have mentioned the existence of the Home Guard in Great Ellingham during World War 2. What follows is another event which, Claude Lebbell (then a member of the village’s Home Guard), recounted to his daughter some years later. It is in the words of Sue Fay: My father, Claude Lebbell…
Great Ellingham welcomes Evacuees during World War II
Operation Pied Piper Two days before Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany, the government initiated Operation Pied Piper. On 1st September, 1939, over 1.5 million people including some 800,00 children were evacuated from urban areas to the countryside. A further evacuation followed in June 1940. Like many rural towns and villages, Great Ellingham…
Gertrude Wigby marries William Ballard
1911 The Wedding of William Ballard & Gertrude Wigby. Courtesy Sue Fay Photograph The above photograph captures bride Gertrude Ballard née Wigby surrounded by her family. Back row (left to right), Ellen Blackman née Wigby, Mabel Downes née Wigby, Flora Wigby, William Ballard, Gertrude Ballard née Wigby, May Wigby, Kate Wigby, Frank Wigby Middle row…
Bow Street Farm has Six Owners in Ten Years!
Extract from 1906 Ordnance Survey Map. Second Edition. Surveyed in 1881. Revised 1904. Courtesy Martin Jeffery Holly Croft Farm is a delightful property in Bow Street. Tenement ‘Newmans’ The origins of the present farmhouse may well have been a tenement called Newmans. This tenement is referred to in the historical deeds to the property at…
Letter concerning Ann Saunders’ Burial in 1884
12 September 1908 Letter from G. Saunders regarding Ann Saunders. Courtesy Roger Banks Letter amongst a Bundle of Deeds The above letter was written over a century ago. It was amongst a bundle of deeds relating to Holly Croft Farm in Bow Street. The letter confirms the burial of Ann Saunders on June 18th, 1884,…