Charles Drake’s premises (cottages with shops) to the right of The Crown Public HousePostcard courtesy Carol Ewin Parts I, II and III of a series of blogs, take the history of the cottage from around 1749 to 1895, when Harry Warren sold the property to Charles Drake. In this blog, we pick up the story…
Category: Postmasters
Part V – A History of the Cottage adjoining The Crown Public House
The Crown Public House with the Adjoining Cottage (on the right)Photograph taken October 2019 Anna Maria Wilkins’ Cottage and Shop to the right of the Crown Public House Courtesy Attleborough Heritage GroupDate Unknown This is one of a series of blogs which look at the history of the cottage which adjoins the Crown Public House…
Annie takes over from her Father, William Wilkins
Great Ellingham Village Stores and Post Office. April 2020. The Wilkins family is one of a few families who can trace their ancestors for several generations in Great Ellingham. In fact, the Wilkins family has been in the village far longer than the present Post Office building, where some of the Wilkins family lived and…
A Magpie makes the News!
Great Ellingham Post Office. Photograph taken c.1990 From the Lynn Advertiser of the 13th January, 1976: Storm Bird A TAME MAGPIE arrived at Great Ellingham Post Office during the recent storm and has stayed with the postmaster. He is looking after it until it is claimed. I believe the ‘postmaster’ at the time was Charles…
Ownership of Land in the same Family for Generations
On the 5th June, 1837, Edward Wilkins purchased the former ‘Town House’ in Long Street. Since the erection of the Wayland Union Workhouse in nearby Rocklands, the ‘Town House’ was no longer needed to house the poor of Great Ellingham. Accordingly, it became surplus to requirements. I believe this property – or at least the…
James Rose, Grocer & Postmaster
St James Great Ellingham. Postcard courtesy Attleborough Heritage Group James son of William & Amelia Rose The son of a shopkeeper, James Rose was baptised in the Church of St James, Great Ellingham on the 18th April, 1809. He was one of at least six children of William and Amelia Rose. His parents had married…
Grocer & Draper in Church Street
Illustration by Christine Fuller The 1851 census finds single man, 23 year old Charles Hannant as a grocer and draper in Church Street, Great Ellingham. Charles’s father, 51 year old William Hannant, is visiting his son. Although his present home was in Stepney (an area in the East End of London), jeweller William Hannant was…
Village Postmasters and Postmistresses
From at least the time of the introduction of the ‘Penny Black’ in 1840, Great Ellingham has been served by a Post Office. This service to the community continues today with the Post Office & Stores in Long Street. But has this building always been the village’s Post Office? Great Ellingham Village Stores and Post…
Sudden Death at the Parish Reading Room
Newspaper report of the Inquest The Norfolk Chronicle of January 27th, 1900 reported on the sudden death of 54 year old Alfred Brighton at the parish Reading Room in Great Ellingham on the previous Tuesday, the 23rd January. At the Inquest held on the following day, Alfred’s wife Sarah Ann Brighton told the County Coroner…
A Perfect Attendance Medals Lost through Mumps in 1906
Great Ellingham School (Girls) possibly early 1900s. Are the boys in the adjacent classroom? Photograph courtesy of Ray Beales The 1906 annual prize distribution to scholars attending the Great Ellingham Board School took place during the middle of December. The Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette reported that the prizes were given out by Mr W…