William Mann was buried in the churchyard at Great Ellingham on 31st August, 1869 aged 73 years Will & Codicil On reaching his mid-fifties, William Mann may well have thought it time to put his affairs in order. Accordingly he drew up his last Will and Testament (amounting to four pages) and executed this in…
Category: Farmers
Hawhill Farm demolished in the 1940s
Until the Second World War, Hawhill Farm (also known or referred to as Haw Hill Farm and Haugh Farm) was a substantial farm property located to the north-east of Stalland Common and Bush Green near to the boundary with Deopham. Extract from a map annexed to Auction Particulars for Hawhill Farm, Great Ellingham dated September…
A Father’s Promise to the Court to keep his son under Restraint
Court Case A special sitting of the Wymondham Petty Sessions took place on 13th April, 1869 to hear a case of the theft of three pistols at Wymondham on 8th April. Robert James Matthews aged 17 of Great Ellingham was charged with stealing three pistols the property of Wymondham ironmonger, Arthur West. The Court was…
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….
First Marriage at the Primitive Methodist Chapel in 1900
Methodist Church in Church Street. Postcard Carol Ewin Charles H Jude, the eldest son of local farmer George Jude of Rookery Farm, Great Ellingham, married Elizabeth Brant at the Primitive Methodist Chapel in Great Ellingham on October 24th, 1900. Reported in the Norfolk News Details of the wedding appeared in the Norfolk News just over…
Tenders Invited for the supply of 50 tons of Household Coal in 1878
The Trustees of the Great Ellingham Fuel Allotment Charity placed a notice in the Norfolk Chronicle of 13th July 1878. The notice invited tenders for the supply for 50 tons of household coal to be delivered at the Coal House in the parish on or before the 1st November 1878. The Coal House which once…
Auction Sale at Penhill Farm as Frederick & Helen Brighton Emigrate
Illustration by Christine Fuller Auction In the Autumn of 1895, Frederick Brighton of Penhill Farm, Great Ellingham instructed Auctioneer, James Mobbs, to sell his Live and Dead Farming Stock. An Auction, which also included the sale of Brighton’s dairy utensils and part of his furniture was arranged for Wednesday, 9th October, 1895 at Penhill Farm….
Claim for Rent & Rates on the Stone Cottage in Bow Street
Illustration by Christine Fuller A case of ‘Strange Contradictions’ was reported by the Norfolk News in their edition of 20th July 1878. A claim was brought by James Lane (the Plaintiff) for rent and rates amounting to £4 5s from James A Rix (the Defendant). The case was heard before the Judge, Edwin Plumer Price…
Arson Attack After Village Receives Threatening Letters
A reward of £200 was offered by the victim, Mr John Barnard, the Lord of his Majesty’s Treasury and the Norwich Union Fire Office following an arson attack at Great Ellingham. Details of the Fire It was reported in the edition of the Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette of Saturday, May 27th, 1832, that about…
Mary Ann Mace Pleads Guilty to Assault Charge in 1883
Court Appearance Mary Ann Mace, described as an Innkeeper’s wife of Great Ellingham, appeared at the Petty Sessions at East Harling on July 30th, 1883. The Defendant was summoned to Court on the information of labourer, John Fox (also of Great Ellingham), for assaulting his daughter, Ellen Fox. Mary Ann pleaded guilty and was adjudged…