Great Ellingham Parish Church The Norwich Mercury of 21st October 1905 reported on the funeral which had taken place at the Parish Church in Great Ellingham of Mr Henry Colman. It was reported that Henry Colman was a keen agriculturalist and that he regularly attended Norwich Market. His last trip to the market was earlier…
Category: Beales
Anthony Beales sells his Windmill to John Browne in 1685
Since the 1600s, Great Ellingham has had at least three windmills at various times. The earliest evidence of a mill in the village which I have so far discovered, is a Conveyance Deed of 1685. On the “Twelfth day of October in the first yeare of the Reigne of our most gracious Soveraigne Lord King…
Horseplay in the Village after School Board Election with Fatal Consequences
Inquest The Norfolk News of June 9th, 1885 reported on the inquest held at Great Ellingham into the death of labourer, Charles Halls. Halls had died from lockjaw arising from injuries received to the forefinger of his right hand while taking part in what was referred to as ‘a little demonstration‘ after the election of…
Death Announcement of Robert Wilkins in 1878
The announcement of the death of Robert Wilkins on the 15th January 1878 at Great Ellingham, appeared in the Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette on January 19th. No further details were provided. Who was Robert Wilkins? The 1871 census shows a 71 year old widower Robert Wilkin living alone in Chequers Lane, Great Ellingham. I…
A case of ‘Theft Most Fowl’
Illustration by Christine Fuller Charge of Stealing Four Fowls The Eastern Daily Press of Saturday March 2nd, 1907, reported on the appearance before the Magistrates at Wymondham of two labourers from Great Ellingham. John Lee and George Anderson were charged with stealing four live fowls from Charles Leverett of Hingham. The fowls had a value…
Marriage of Schoolmistress Miss Ethel M Beales in 1927
Overton and Beales Families. Marriage of Ernest H B Overton and Ethel M Beales 1927. Facing photograph back row from right to left fourth is Ethel’s brother Luther and next to him third from right is his wife Dorothy. Photograph courtesy of Joan Barnard Marriage The marriage between Ernest H B Overton and Ethel M…
Sale by Auction of Cottages in Bow Street in 1874
Illustration by Christine Fuller The Norwich Mercury dated 29th August 1874, contained a notice of a sale of property by Public Auction. The auction lots would include cottages in Bow Street, Great Ellingham. The Auction would be held at the New Inn (now the Royal Hotel) in Attleborough, at four o’clock sharp, on the 3rd…
Ann, Wife of Layer Vynne, buried in 1759
Memorial to Ann Vynne in Great Ellingham Parish Church This Memorial caught my eye on a visit to the Church of St James. The inscription looks to be as clear as the day the stone slab was laid into the floor presumably not long after February 1759. Around 260 years ago! Who were Layer and…
Robert Beales, son of Philip and Sarah
Great Ellingham Parish Church Baptism Philip Beales and his wife Sarah brought their infant son Robert for baptism at Great Ellingham Parish Church on December 4th, 1831. 1841 at Bow Street Around 9 years later, the census of 1841 finds 9 year old Robert Bales (Beales) with his parents, elder siblings James aged 15, George…
The Inhabitants of Chequers Lane – 1861 to 1911
Postcard of Chequers Lane. Courtesy of Carol Ewin Although the Chequers Inn is mentioned in the census returns of 1841 and 1851, it is not until the census of 1861 that the name Chequers (or Chequer) Lane appears. It is therefore difficult to establish how many households were living in what we know today as…