The inscription on the headstone in the churchyard at Great Ellingham for John Mallows and his wife Amy is still clear after over 130 years. John Mallows. Born August 19th, 1802. Died August 7th, 1870. Also of Amy, his wife. Born November 7th, 1805. Died February 24th, 1885. Burial entries for John Mallows and his…
Author: Heather Etteridge
Severe Winter Weather – Deep and Crisp and Even …
No doubt many of us will recall the cold winters of our childhood. I remember the snowy days in the sixties when we made sledges from almost anything we could lay our hands on. These were put together with nails and screws scavenged from someone’s Dad’s shed. Hours of fun in the snow until we…
A Christmas Tree filled with Useful Articles of Clothing!
Illustration by Christine Fuller Annual Presentation The Norwich Mercury of January 13th, 1872 reported on the 2nd January, the poor of the parish of Great Ellingham, received their annual presents from the Rector. The Rector had, however, since left the county. The children of the National School were also presented with various articles of clothing,…
Christmas Greetings to Family & Friends
Postcard postmarked 23rd December 1907 sent to Edith Addison at The Rectory, Shropham by friend Lizzie Postmarked December 23, 1905, postcard sent from Fred Watson in Wolverhampton to his cousin Walter Addison living in Fersfield, Norfolk. Frederick Wallace Watson born 1895, a Sergeant with the South Staffordshire Regiment died on 13th October, 1915 in France…
Postcard Returns to Great Ellingham after 100 years
Postcard sent from Great Ellingham by Lilian Field to Ada Warren in Higham Bury St Edmunds around 1911 I was delighted to be able to purchase this postcard and even more delighted to find that it had been used and that I knew exactly who had written it! A big clue to the identity of…
John Chaplin – Ordered to Maintain his Mother
Court Appearances Drover, John Chaplin of Great Ellingham appeared before the Magistrates at East Harling in June 1873 charged with refusing to obey an order made by the Justices on a previous occasion, for the maintenance of his mother. The Magistrates imposed a penalty and costs of £1 9s. John Chaplin had been before the…
Mill House Partly Destroyed by Fire
Mill House with the Mill behind. Postcard postmarked 1905. Newspaper Report The Norfolk News of Saturday, 6th August 1904, reported on the fire which occurred at the Mill House at Great Ellingham the previous Thursday. The Mill House, built of clay with a thatched roof with a combined bake-office, was partly destroyed before the arrival…
Court Appearance for Shopkeeper, Thomas Edwards
Illustration by Christine Fuller On 11th November 1857, the Magistrates at East Harling Petty Sessions convicted Thomas Edwards, of Great Ellingham, of having in his shop a light weight. He was fined 5s with 11s costs. Where was Thomas Edward’s Shop? The 1851 census captures 30 year old labourer and grocer, Thomas Edwards, with his…
December Wedding for John Penson and Ellen Downes in 1924
December 22nd, 1924 Wedding of John Penson and Ellen Downes at Rockland All Saints. Photograph courtesy of Lucinda Bell-Tye Jack Penson Although John Penson was born and raised in Willey, Shropshire, John’s maternal ancestors came from Norfolk. John, born in 1887, was one of four children of John Penson and his wife Lydia née Matthews….
Death of peruke maker William Frost
Last Will & Testament During the reign of King George IV, William Frost, a peruke maker (wig maker) of Great Ellingham, made his last Will and Testament some 10 years before he died. Perhaps William was feeling very unwell at that time or, he was perfectly well and that he just wanted to ‘put his…