Sampler worked by Jane Houchen in 1858. Courtesy of Pauline Bezant Jane Houchen may well have been approaching her eleventh birthday when she completed this piece of needlework. In days gone by, ‘Samplers’ were produced by young girls as a means of showing their skill in needlework. Often worked in embroidery or cross-stitching, some Samplers…
Category: Houchen
The Erection of the British School in 1855
Before the nineteenth century, there was no national system for education. Opportunities for formal education were generally only available to those who could afford to pay. The schools that did exist relied on the generosity of local benefactors or people trying to make a living. Very few children received any schooling. The former British School…
‘A Miller’s Account’
The Norwich Mercury of 26th November, 1902 reported on the case of Underwood -v- Wilkin which was heard at the County Court at Attleborough on the previous Saturday. The newspaper report’s heading was ‘A Miller’s Account‘. The parties in the action were the Plaintiff, James William Underwood, and J. Wilkin junior, the Defendant. James Underwood…
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…
Three Cottages in the street late called Churchgate Street
Long Street with Mill in background. Postcard Carol Ewin 1897 James Houchen Buys Three Cottages By an Indenture (property deed) dated 11th October, 1897 three cottages with gardens and grounds were conveyed to James Houchen of Great Ellingham. An earlier deed of 1874 and a later deed of 1920, described the cottages as being ‘in…
Disorderly Conduct at the Chequers Inn
Illustration by Christine Fuller Before the Magistrates A night of disorderly conduct at the Chequers Inn on the 29th May, 1866 resulted in the appearance before the Magistrates at East Harling of the Landlord and some of his customers. John Brown, the Landlord, was fined £2 and costs of 14s for permitting disorderly conduct at…
Edmund Houchen signs his Last Will & Testament in 1853
The surname Houchen has appeared in the Great Ellingham Parish Registers for many, many years with variations such as Howchen, Houchin. These alternative spellings also occur in the census returns. However I will keep to the spelling as ‘Houchen’ whether or not the spelling appears as such in the documentation to which I have referred….
A Marriage Uniting Two Long-Established Families of the Village
The marriage of Francis Houchen and Matilda Dey at the Church of St James Great Ellingham on 5th January 1843, joined together two long- established families of the village of Great Ellingham. Houchen The name Houchen (also found as Howchin, Houchin) appears in the Great Ellingham parish registers from at least 1698, although no entries…
Death of Farmer George Newby of Long Street in 1874
The Norfolk News of 29th August 1874, reported the death at Great Ellingham of 59 year old George Newby. The report stated that George Newby was ‘greatly respected and deeply lamented by his family and friends’. I have not found a corresponding burial for George Newby in the Parish Registers for the Church of St…
Blacksmith’s Shop in Town Green
Property Owner Benjamin Turner In 1800, Benjamin Turner owned five dwellings and one blacksmith’s shop in Great Ellingham. Turner occupied one of the dwellings, and let the other properties to tenants. The blacksmith’s shop (copyhold of the Manor of Ellingham Hall), was occupied by James Lebbell. Where was the Blacksmith’s Shop? Extract from 1802 Map…