Illustration Christine Fuller The following article was published in the Bury & Norwich Post on Wednesday 21st November, 1832: A daring robbery was committed on Saturday evening, about seven o’clock, in St Stephen’s Street, upon a cattle dealer from Great Ellingham, who was holding his horse at the door of the Two-necked Swan, when he…
Category: Court Hearings
Emigration following a ‘Brush with the Law’
Jeremiah John Edwards. Courtesy Jane Sayliss Jeremiah John Edwards was born in Great Ellingham in 1904. He was the fourth child of George William Edwards and his wife Elizabeth nèe Lincoln. Tanyard Farm CottagesPhotograph courtesy Bryan Dye Tanyard Farm Cottages The 1911 census captures the Edwards family living at Tanyard Farm Cottages. Farm labourer George…
Lily Ayton accuses Daisy Dexter of stealing her Money
Illustration Christine Fuller In April 1916, Daisy Florence Dexter found herself ‘on the wrong side of the law’. News-vendor, Lily Ayton, accused her of stealing 14/- (fourteen shillings) together with a calico bag. Facts of the Case The case came before the Magistrates at East Harling. The court heard the circumstances of the case. Daisy…
Occupiers of the Stalland Common Cottages
The construction of Deopham Green Airfield included the demolition of several buildings. This included the cottages at Stalland Common. Left: Extract from 1906 Ordnance Survey Map. Second Edition. Surveyed in 1881. Revised 1904. Courtesy Martin JefferyRight: Extract from a map attached to Auction Particulars for Hawhill Farm Great Ellingham dated September 1920Original document held at…
‘Wayside’ at the first half of the 20th Century
‘Wayside’ Attleborough Road. 1970Courtesy Jane Brand The cottage called ‘Wayside’ stood along the Attleborough Road. It was built on a field called ‘Dunhams‘ during the mid-Victorian period. Like many other buildings in Great Ellingham, the house will have under-gone many changes over the years. Further, it will have seen the comings and goings of many…
7 year old Charles Rider sets fire to Wheat Stack
Illustration by Christine Fuller Since ‘Lucifers‘ were created in the 1820s, matches have held some fascination for children. However this fascination can lead to disastrous events. Matches were once household necessities – at a time, of course, when there was no electricity! The matter of children playing with matches, is mentioned in The Dublin Weekly…
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…
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…
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…
The Tale of the Vanishing Linen!
Illustration by Christine Fuller 24 year old May Bush lived with her parents and siblings at Rookery Farm, Great Ellingham. May worked in the dairy for her father, farmer William Arthur Bush. She was proficient in dairy skills. Indeed, in the July of 1911, May received a commendation at the Butter Making Championships held at…