Illustration by Christine Fuller The 1851 census finds single man, 23 year old Charles Hannant as a grocer and draper in Church Street, Great Ellingham. Charles’s father, 51 year old William Hannant, is visiting his son. Although his present home was in Stepney (an area in the East End of London), jeweller William Hannant was…
Author: Heather Etteridge
Sentence of Seven Years Transportation in 1823
Thomas Tompson (or Thompson) appeared at the County Sessions at Wymondham in the January of 1823. Tompson was charged with embezzling the sum of £15 12s 12d belonging to his employer, a higgler, at Great Ellingham. Tompson was convicted and sentenced to seven years transportation. The report of the case appearing in the Bury &…
Widow Stebbins occupying ‘one messuage & 26 acres of land’
Today, Great Ellingham has two farms in Penhill Road which include ‘Penhill’ in the farm name – Penhill Farm and Penhill Farm West. As the name suggests, Penhill Farm West is situated near to the western boundary of the village with Rocklands. Penhill Farm lies nearer to the village along the same road. Penhill Farm…
Three Sons-in-law with the name John!
Illustration by Christine Fuller Death of William Downes William Downes died on the 30th August, 1853 at the age of 79. He was buried in the churchyard at the Parish Church of St James a few days later on the 4th September. Just three weeks earlier, William had put his affairs in order. He signed…
A G Cracknell’s Shop in Church Street
1954. A G Cracknell’s Shop in Great Ellingham. Photographs courtesy Diane Davis Purchase of Church Street Shop Arthur George Cracknell purchased this familiar village shop in Church Street, Great Ellingham in 1952. For many years, he ran the general stores with his wife Evelyn, whom he had married in 1924. Their son, Colin, also worked…
Edward Howchen, Primitive Methodist Preacher
Church Street. Methodist Church. Postcard courtesy of Carol Ewin At the age of 75, Edward Howchen was laid to rest in the cemetery in Wymondham in the August of 1892. The 1891 census captures Edward Howchen with his wife Maria living in Middleton Street, Wymondham. The census tells us that Edward was a Primitive Methodist…
‘Stranger in Blood’ Hannah Saunders
Extract from 28th January 1898 Inland Revenue Account of Succession to real or leasehold property completed by R W H Venn, Solicitor, Attleborough for the Executors of William Lebbell deceased The above extract from an Inland Revenue Account dated 28th January 1898, confirms that Hannah Saunders, a beneficiary of property under the Will of the…
Ellis Houchen Admitted as Copyhold Tenant
In the nineteenth century, some of the land in Great Ellingham was freehold (or held on a long lease). However, other land was copyhold. This was another form of property ownership before its abolition in the 1920s. There were three Manors in Great Ellingham: Ellingham Rectory, Ellingham Hall and, the largest, Bury Hall. Most of…
Mr Isaac Lebbell, a Bankrupt
Auction The edition of the Norwich Mercury dated 14th May 1887, included the announcement of a forthcoming Auction of properties situate in Griston, Scoulton and Great Ellingham belonging to Mr Isaac Lebbell, a Bankrupt. The Auction, by the firm of Edward Banham & Son of Methwold and Watton, would take place at five o’clock in…
The Miller Family’s Emigration to Australia
Whether William Miller saw an advertisement in the local newspaper offering a new and better life in Australia, or he knew of a family who had taken (or was about to take) such a journey, 39 year old William Miller with his wife and children emigrated from Great Ellingham to Australia in 1852. Born in…