Stanley Frederick Giles (1917-1942) Courtesy Jane Sayliss Stanley Giles was 25 year old when he died as a prisoner of war in Thailand on the 14th December, 1942. Great Ellingham Born He was born in Great Ellingham on the 15th November, 1917. His parents, John and Nellie Giles, already had three children – Douglas, Winifred…
Author: Heather Etteridge
Good Many Complaints about playing Football in the Streets
Illustration Christine Fuller On the 14th May 1917, John Bilverstone and Ernest Mallett found themselves on the ‘wrong side of the law’. Whilst playing a game of football in Long Street, the farm labourers were approached by Police Constable Woods. On picking up the ball from the feet of John Bilverstone, Police Constable Woods told…
‘The Parsonage’ through time
The former Parsonage with the adjacent school room The blue arrow indicates the position of the Parish Room & ParsonageExtract from 1906 Ordnance Survey Map. Second Edition. Surveyed in 1881. Revised 1904 Land gifted by Lord Walsingham Here we look at the history of The Parsonage in Great Ellingham and the earlier use of the…
Jack Penson takes in Evacuees at Tanyard Farm
Early 1930s Jack Penson with son Sidney John at Tanyard Farm Great EllinghamCourtesy Lucinda Bell-Tye Just before the outbreak of World War II, the government initiated Operation Pied Piper. The result being an evacuation of some 800,000 children from urban areas to the countryside. As a consequence, Great Ellingham welcomed a number of evacuees. Although…
The Tragic Loss of a Young Life
Just like many families in other parishes, Great Ellingham folk suffered the loss of their loved ones. Many of these losses were through tragedies. Death is probably the only certainty in life. However, the loss of a child must be an unbearable and painful experience. To lose a child as a result of a terrible…
Frederick Barker Fined Thirty Shillings for Stealing a Hen
In the past, many of the inhabitants of Great Ellingham kept hens. These chickens provided many a ‘cash- strapped’ villager with a plentiful supply of fresh eggs and, on occasions, ‘Sunday lunch’. Unsurprisingly, there were several instances of hen thefts. Consequently, many offenders appeared before the Magistrates. One such wrong-doer was Frederick Barker. Illustration Christine…
Charles W Gladden’s Fatal Drive through Great Ellingham
On Saturday 23rd July 1910, the Norfolk News published an article about the death of farmer Charles Warren Gladden. The article also tells us that Charles Gladden died whilst driving his horse and cart through Great Ellingham. Family Connections Although born in Stratton Strawless, Charles Warren Gladden has family connections with Great Ellingham. His maternal…
Sarah Tilson struck down with Paralysis at the Baptist Chapel
Baptist Chapel Long Street Great EllinghamCourtesy Attleborough Heritage Group Marriage in Attleborough The wedding of Samuel Tilson and Sarah Wright took place at St Mary’s Church, Attleborough on the 25th May, 1812. At the time of their marriage, both Samuel and Sarah were single and lived in Attleborough. St Mary’s Church, Attleborough Move to Great…
For Sale – Newly built farmhouse known as Wylands Farm
Illustration Christine Fuller Wylands Farm lies to the most southern end of Long Street not far from the village boundary with Attleborough. Extract from O.S. Map c.1945. Courtesy Ray & Maureen Beales The Thetford & Watton Times of the 23rd September, 1916, published the following notice: PROPERTY SALE On Wednesday afternoon Messrs W S Hall…
Magistrates order Nehemiah Carter to contribute towards his Wife’s Care
A Workhouse was intended to provide work and shelter for the most poverty stricken members of society. However, many of the Victorian Workhouses operated with prison-like conditions. Accordingly it was only the desperate who would seek the shelter of the workhouse. Nevertheless by the latter part of the Victorian era, workhouses became more of a…