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…
Category: Brooks
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…
The History of the Double Cottage built on Pennell Common – Part II
Double Cottage at Penhill Road Photograph courtesy of the McDouall family This double cottage has stood along Penhill Road since at least 1811. Like many other historical houses in the village, the cottage has undergone many changes over the years. Furthermore, it will have seen the comings and goings of many occupants. We left Part…
Morley St Botolph man Richard Jolly, an ‘Incorrigible Rogue & Vagabond’
Police Custody Between the 13th and 19th November, 1850, Richard Jolly (Jolley), found himself in Police custody in the Lock-Up at Wymondham’s Bridewell. From the Wymondham Police Charge Book 1850-1866 we know that Richard Jolly was a 66 year old labourer of Morley St Botolph. He stood 5 feet 3 inches tall and had ‘imperfect’…
Robert Brooke’s Farmhouse in Long Street
Robert Brooke (c.1757-1829) Robert Brooke of Great Ellingham died in March 1829. He was 73 years old, a bachelor, and a yeoman i.e. a farmer owning a reasonable amount of property and land, but not sufficient to be classed as ‘gentry’. Variations of Name During my research, I have found that this family’s surname ‘Brooke‘…
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…
Susan Pea given 14 Days for Theft of Turnips
Appearance at Norwich Assizes 26 year old Susan Pea appeared at the Norwich Assizes at the beginning of April 1837. She was charged with stealing two bushels of turnips at Great Ellingham, the property of John Turner. Susan was found guilty and sentenced to 14 days imprisonment. Two bushels is approximately eight stone (or nearly…
Messuage divided into Three Tenements lying in Churchgate
During the 19th century, many of the dwellinghouses in the village of Great Ellingham were tenanted. Further, not all the landlords lived in the village. Late 17th Century Dwellinghouse in Church Street An example of this is a late 17th century dwellinghouse lying in what we today know as Church Street, just opposite Mill Farm….
Charles & Frances Thilthorpe survived only by their daughter Thomasin
Marriage and Children Charles Thilthorpe arrived in Great Ellingham with his wife Frances (neé Bunkall) sometime after their marriage in Watton on 11th October, 1772. Baptisms for at least eight children of Charles and Frances Thilthorpe appear in the Great Ellingham Parish Registers between 1774 and 1785. One entry confirms that Frances was formerly spinster…