Harry & Hester Rix. c.1940sCourtesy Elizabeth Neil The Great Ellingham Invasion Committee Records of 1942 lists Henry Charles (aka Harry) Rix and his wife Hester living in Attleborough Road. At the time, Harry Rix is not far off his 50th birthday and Hester is a couple of years older. Harry Rix’s Identity Card stamped 26…
Category: Wheelwrights
The History of Glenfield House & Cottage – Part I
Photograph taken December 2023 Despite many changes over the last two centuries, the above scene at the corner of Attleborough Road and Church Street, will still be recognisable to those who lived in village at the turn of the 19th century. In this article we look at the history of Glenfield House and Glenfield Cottage….
The History of Glenfield House & Cottage – Part II
Photograph taken December 2023 Great Ellingham is fortunate to have a wealth of historical houses. Many of these may have narrowly escaped the fate of demolition, as happened to so many of the village’s old cottages. Glenfield House and Glenfield Cottage comprise the characterful thatched house standing along the Attleborough Road, near to the junction…
The History of Glenfield House & Cottage – Part III
Photograph taken December 2023 In Parts I and II of the ‘History of Glenfield House & Cottage”, we looked at the owners and occupiers of this delightful thatched and tiled house from around 1762 until 1865. Here in Part III, we continue the story. ‘Glenfield’ It is only in relatively recent times that the thatched…
The History of the Double Cottage built on Pennell Common – Part I
Double Cottage at Penhill Road. Photograph courtesy of McDouall family For nearly two centuries, the above double cottage is one of just a few houses in Penhill Road. It was built around 1810 on a piece of land formerly part of of ‘Pennell Common’. Like many other historical houses in the village, the cottage has…
Two Houses, Baking Office, Yard & Garden
Widow Mary Barnard’s Claim Amongst widow Mary Barnard’s claim to the Commissioners for the Inclosures of Great Ellingham in 1799, was: One cottage occupied by James Webster and William Barnard and One Messuage occupied by John Wilkins and Sarah Coe I believe that the messuage (i.e. a dwellinghouse, outbuildings and land), was at that time…
The History of the Chequers Public House
The Chequers c.1912. The board over the doorway refers to the licensee, Jacob Beales. Assumed to be in the photograph is Jacob Beales (centre) and IsabellaCourtesy Linda Purdy At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Chequers Public House was owned by Mary Warren. Mary also occupied the Chequers her husband, William Warren. An Abstract…
The Wigbys of Mill Farm
1965. Mill Farm to the left of the photograph. Courtesy of Angela Crocker Funeral and Burial of Mrs Louisa Wigby Two days after Louisa Wigby was buried in the churchyard at St James, Great Ellingham on January 16th, 1939, a report of the funeral appeared in the Eastern Daily Press. The funeral service, conducted by…
Stock, Trade Materials & Effects to James Reeder
Amongst the legacies mentioned in wheelwright William Lebbell’s will of the 17th July, 1897, was the gift of all his stock, trade materials and effects to carpenter, James Reeder who was said to be in William’s service. Further, the will states that William Lebbell had already conveyed his dwellinghouse, premises and land to James Reeder….
‘Stranger in Blood’ Hannah Saunders
Extract from 28th January 1898 Inland Revenue Account of Succession to real or leasehold property completed by R W H Venn, Solicitor, Attleborough for the Executors of William Lebbell deceased The above extract from an Inland Revenue Account dated 28th January 1898, confirms that Hannah Saunders, a beneficiary of property under the Will of the…