Tanyard Farm CottagesPhotograph courtesy of Bryan Dye At the turn of the 19th century, Tanyard Farm was owned by John Warren. The property then comprised a house, tan office, barn, stable, yard and garden. Warren also owned a nearby beam shed and barn, together with several acres of land. In addition, Warren owned other cottages….
Category: Downes
Emigration following a ‘Brush with the Law’
Jeremiah John Edwards. Courtesy Jane Sayliss Jeremiah John Edwards was born in Great Ellingham in 1904. He was the fourth child of George William Edwards and his wife Elizabeth nèe Lincoln. Tanyard Farm CottagesPhotograph courtesy Bryan Dye Tanyard Farm Cottages The 1911 census captures the Edwards family living at Tanyard Farm Cottages. Farm labourer George…
Cottage built on land formerly known as ‘Dunhams’
For centuries, the village was a patchwork of arable and pasture fields of various shapes and sizes. Following the enclosures and with modern farming practices, many of the ‘farm fields’ became much larger and absorbed some of the ‘old fields’. Further, over time and with the demands for housing, many fields have been developed. One…
William Downes brings his family to Bury Hall Farm
Bury Hall. Courtesy Emma Wilson Following the Rushbrooke family’s emigration to New Zealand in 1897, William Downes moved into Bury Hall Farm with his wife and family. Early Life William Downes was born in Attleborough on the 27th July, 1860. He was the seventh of eight children born to James and Ann Downes (née Page)….
Book of ‘Family Worship’ belonging to James & Ann Downes
Extract from the Book of Family Worship. Downes Family. Courtesy Rita Downes A Family Bible is a useful resource for family historians. Although the information is usually limited to a list of names and birth dates, it nevertheless helps to piece together members of a family. It may also provide details which would otherwise remain…
Private 242535 Alfred H Beales 1/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment
Fellow local historian, Cynthia Budd, has meticulously researched the men listed on the Great War Memorials throughout the Shellrock Benefice (Great Ellingham, Little Ellingham, Rockland All Saints, Rockland St Peter and Shropham with Snetterton). She has kindly allowed me to reproduce her tributes to the Great Ellingham men, on the Great Ellingham One-Place Study website….
A Double Wedding for the Carter Sisters
1903 ‘Double Wedding’ Jacob Beales & Isabella Carter and Alfred Harry Osborne & Kate Carter. Courtesy Carolyn Boatwright The wonderful Edwardian photograph captures the ‘double wedding’ of sisters, Isabella and Kate Carter. The joint nuptials took place during 1903 at the Baptist Church, Great Ellingham. Looking at the photograph, on the left is 31 year…
George Jude sells land for Recreation Ground
Many of us will be familiar with the large recreation ground we are fortunate to have in our village. But I wonder whether any of us have ever thought how long the village has actually had the recreation ground. Farm Meadows Before the creation of a designated recreation ground, several owners of the larger farms…
A ‘Choice Farm’ occupied by Mr J Downes for sale by Auction
In the summer of 1892, Auctioneers Salter Simpson & Sons, received instructions to sell a ‘choice farm’ in Great Ellingham. The sellers were referred to as the “Devisees in Trust for Sale under the Will of the late Mr Robert Land.” The Farm The printed Auction Particulars also tell us that the ‘choice farm’ comprised…
Gertrude Wigby marries William Ballard
1911 The Wedding of William Ballard & Gertrude Wigby. Courtesy Sue Fay Photograph The above photograph captures bride Gertrude Ballard née Wigby surrounded by her family. Back row (left to right), Ellen Blackman née Wigby, Mabel Downes née Wigby, Flora Wigby, William Ballard, Gertrude Ballard née Wigby, May Wigby, Kate Wigby, Frank Wigby Middle row…