In this blog, we look at two of the families who occupied a particular house in Long Street from around 1904 until at least the 1960s. The house is now known as Fir Tree Farm. However, I am uncertain when the farm was given the name ‘Fir Tree Farm’. I have discovered that the house…
Category: Occupations
A Series of Indentures conveying Cemetery Farm to John Wiggett
It is always satisfying to come across documentation which either backs up or disproves my earlier research. In this case, deeds from 1801 confirm my belief that John Morphew sold his farmhouse in Long Street (later known as the Cemetery Farm) to John Wiggett. But do the legal documents tell us anything else? Conveyancing Documents…
1865 Auction Sale of Barnaby Barnard’s Properties in Bow Street
During the early to mid-nineteenth century, Wymondham born Barnaby Ezekiel Barnard (also known as Barnabas Ezekiel Barnard), a yeoman, of Rockland St Peter, owned several properties in Great Ellingham. In his last will and testament, he appointed the Reverend William Bird (also of Rockland St Peter), and Ellis Turner, a farmer of Caston, as his…
The Rivetts at Pond Farm
Extract from 1906 Ordnance Survey Map. Second Edition. Surveyed in 1881. Author’s Collection The black dot on the above extract from a 1906 Ordnance Survey Map, shows the home of Leonard and Gertrude Rivett at Pond Farm in Watton Road, Great Ellingham. Pond Farm still exists. Further, there has been a dwelling on the site…
Messuage in Long Street later known as Fir Tree Farm
Inclosures At the beginning of the 19th century Thomas Warren owned and occupied a house in Long Street. This house was later known as Fir Tree Farm. A Statement of Claims c.1799 relating to the Great Ellingham Inclosures, provide details of the owners and occupiers of houses, cottages and the various parcels of land in…
Vic Howlett creates Butcher’s Shop from a Shed!
Vic Howlett’s Butcher’s Shop (blue building) in Chequers Lane. Photograph taken c.1990 If you lived in Great Ellingham during the 1960s to the 1990s, you most likely would have bought your meat from Vic Howlett’s Butchers Shop in Chequers Lane. Vic was always cheerful and had a kind word for everyone. I recently listened to…
Stained-Glass Window in Memory of Robert Barnard Lebbell and his wife Mary
Photograph courtesy of Steve Moore-Vale On the south side of the Church of St James, is a fine stained-glass window dedicated to two members of long-standing local families: Robert Barnard Lebbell and his wife Mary née Mann. The cost of the window was funded by their family. Photograph courtesy of Steve Moore-Vale Who was Robert…
Emma Le Grice widowed after the tragic death of husband Robert Le Grice
Father – Local Publican Robert Lebbell Emma Le Grice was born Emma Lebbell in the village of Great Ellingham. The day of her birth was either at the very end of 1842 or just into 1843, as she was baptised in the Church of St James on the 8th January. Her parents were local publican…
James Fox ‘gives up’ his Farm in Bow Street
1904 Auction of Farm in Bow Street Occupied by James Fox The Norfolk Chronicle of the 6th August, 1904, included notice of the sale by auction of a ‘Desirable Small Occupation Farm’ in Bow Street, Great Ellingham. The auction would take place at the Royal Hotel, Norwich at 7 o’clock in the evening of the…
Seven Acre Farm in Bow Street
At the beginning of the 19th century, there were 13 dwellings along Bow Street. These dwellings included eight houses and five cottages. Of the eight houses, six were farms with land ranging from around seven acres to 43 acres. George Cady (Caddy) of Rockland All Saints, owned one of the houses together with seven acres…