1845 Court Hearing In October, 1845, brothers William and Daniel Hall appeared at the County Quarter Sessions in Norwich. They were charged with breaking and entering, and taking items from the home of John Sayer, a miller, of Great Ellingham, on the 20th July. William and Daniel were alleged to have taken seven keys, one…
Category: Court Hearings
Denmark & Pitts bring Terror to the Neighbourhood
County Sessions, Norwich, 6th January 1836 On the 6th January, 1836, James Denmark and Goodson Pitts stood before the Chairman of the County Sessions held in Norwich, on a charge of larceny. Shoemaker John Hooke lived near to the Chequers Public House in what we today know as Chequers Lane. Postcard courtesy of Carol Ewin…
Theft of Lead from the Church Roof
Church of St James, Great Ellingham. Postcard courtesy of Attleborough Heritage Group Court Appearance 24 year old Samuel Spencer was amongst the prisoners appearing at the County Sessions in Norwich, on the 6th January, 1836. Spencer stole 26 lbs of lead from the roof of the parish church in Great Ellingham. He was found guilty,…
The Living Conditions in Robert Oldfield’s Church Street Cottage
Amongst other things, the provisions of the Housing of the Working Classes Act gave enforcement powers to local authorities, in relation to sanitary conditions and overcrowding in housing. 1901 census Wreningham born William Lane came to Great Ellingham with his wife and two children before the birth of their son William c.1896. The 1901 census…
Assault by Knocking off a Hat!
Illustration by Christine Fuller Great Ellingham farmer, William Robert Wick Green, appeared before the Magistrates at East Harling in the July of 1869. James Tennant, a miller’s clerk of East Harling, charged William Green with assaulting him by knocking off his hat at Attleborough on the 21st June. Green told the court that he “did…
A Drunk & Disorderly Shepherd
Illustration by Christine Fuller Court Appearance Herbert Morter, a shepherd, of Great Ellingham appeared before the Magistrates at East Harling at the beginning of October, 1908. Herbert was charged with being drunk and disorderly on the 5th October. He was convicted and fined the sum of of fourteen shillings, which included the penalty and costs….
Susan Pea given 14 Days for Theft of Turnips
Appearance at Norwich Assizes 26 year old Susan Pea appeared at the Norwich Assizes at the beginning of April 1837. She was charged with stealing two bushels of turnips at Great Ellingham, the property of John Turner. Susan was found guilty and sentenced to 14 days imprisonment. Two bushels is approximately eight stone (or nearly…
Marital Disagreement results in a Court Appearance
Extract from 1906 Ordnance Survey Map. Second Edition. Surveyed in 1881. Author’s Collection The above extract from a 1906 Ordnance Survey Map shows the location of the Prince of Wales Public House along the Watton Road in Great Ellingham. Norfolk News report on the Court Case The report of a court case appearing in the…
Purchase of ‘Pooleys’ on the Anchor Common
Extracts from a letter dated 3rd March 1840 to Messrs Mitchell & Clarke Wymondham from Trehern & White of 134 Leadenhall Street LondonAuthor’s own collection The above letter dated 3rd March, 1840, was sent by Messrs Trehern & White of London to Messrs Mitchell & Clarke solicitors of Wymondham. Under the heading ‘Mann & Burlingham’,…
Transportation for ‘Respectable-looking Farmer’
The edition of The Northern Star of March 31st, 1849 reported on the cases heard at the Norwich Assizes on March 27th. One such case was that of William Kiddle Warren, described as a ‘respectable-looking farmer‘, who pleaded guilty to two charges of forgery. Warren had forged two bills of exchange (otherwise known as promissory…