The remains of the Parish Church of Saint Andrew, Rocklands. Photograph taken December 2019 Norfolk Heritage Explorer describes what remains of St Andrew’s Church, Rocklands as “the ruins of a 14th century church to the southeast of All Saints’ Church”. Ruins of Rockland St Andrew. Photograph taken December 2019 In his Essay Towards A Topographical…
Category: Houchen
‘Mass Emigration’ from Great Ellingham in 1836
Illustration by Christine Fuller Borrowing to Fund the Emigration of the Poor Persons of the Parish One of the provisions of the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834, was the legislation which enabled the rate payers of a parish to set up a fund to pay for the ‘emigration of the poor persons settled in the…
Sixth Footpath called ‘Church Path’ discontinued in the early c18th
The Inclosures Map for Great Ellingham of 1802 shows four connecting footways weaving their way through various inclosures of land between Long Street and the road leading to the town of Attleborough. However, these four footpaths (together with ten others), were ‘put by and discontinued ‘ by the Inclosure (Great Ellingham) Act of 1799. Extract…
A Bouquet of Lilies, Chrysanthemums & Heather
Decorated window on the north side of the Church of St James, Great Ellingham Wedding Report The Eastern Daily Press of Tuesday, 30th September, 1913 reported on the wedding at St James’s Church, Great Ellingham, of Edward R Lincoln and Alice Rebecca Rivett. The event was said to have ‘aroused considerable local interest‘. Fast approaching…
Purchase of ‘Pooleys’ on the Anchor Common
Extracts from a letter dated 3rd March 1840 to Messrs Mitchell & Clarke Wymondham from Trehern & White of 134 Leadenhall Street LondonAuthor’s own collection The above letter dated 3rd March, 1840, was sent by Messrs Trehern & White of London to Messrs Mitchell & Clarke solicitors of Wymondham. Under the heading ‘Mann & Burlingham’,…
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….
Edward Howchen, Primitive Methodist Preacher
Church Street. Methodist Church. Postcard courtesy of Carol Ewin At the age of 75, Edward Howchen was laid to rest in the cemetery in Wymondham in the August of 1892. The 1891 census captures Edward Howchen with his wife Maria living in Middleton Street, Wymondham. The census tells us that Edward was a Primitive Methodist…
‘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…
Ellis Houchen Admitted as Copyhold Tenant
In the nineteenth century, some of the land in Great Ellingham was freehold (or held on a long lease). However, other land was copyhold. This was another form of property ownership before its abolition in the 1920s. There were three Manors in Great Ellingham: Ellingham Rectory, Ellingham Hall and, the largest, Bury Hall. Most of…
The Tale of a Pair of Trousers being made at the top of the Spire!
Spire of the Church of St James Great Ellingham. Photograph taken May 2020 During the winter months, the lights which usually adorn the church tower of St James at Christmas draw our attention to the tower and spire, but I wonder how many of us look up at the spire at any other time? Top…